sjolsen & @sjolsen@tech.lgbt

Kspacewalk2 13 minutes ago | prev | next [-] fwo economists are walking in a forest when they come across a pile of shit. The first economist says to the other “I’ll pay you $100 to eat that pile of shit.” The second economist takes the $100 and eats the pile of shit. They continue walking until they come across a second pile of shit. The second economist turns to the first and says “Ill pay you $100 to eat that pile of shit.” The first economist takes the $100 and eats a pile of shit. Walking a little more, the first economist looks at the second and says, “You know, I gave you $100 to eat shit, then you gave me back the same $100 to eat shit. I can’t help but feel like we both just ate shit for nothing.” “That’s not true”, responded the second economist. “We increased the GDP by $200!” 16 Sept 2023, 20:45 530 17

  • Belgdore@lemm.ee
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    69
    ·
    1 year ago

    The whole assuming humans to be rational part is what messes up the calculation.

    • surewhynotlem@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      17
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      The core of capitalist economics relies on two things: perfect knowledge and rational people. I believe capitalism can work in so far as we have those two things.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        5
        ·
        1 year ago

        Sort of like a for-profit healthcare system will work if it relies on two things: everyone can afford insurance and everyone is very healthy.

            • derpgon@programming.dev
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              1
              ·
              edit-2
              1 year ago

              Statistics don’t lie, and you always need a buffer.

              That’s why it works pretty well in Europe. At least in Czechia, but should be about the same in the other countries.

                • derpgon@programming.dev
                  link
                  fedilink
                  English
                  arrow-up
                  1
                  ·
                  1 year ago

                  About patients, diseases, injuries, and other medical emergencies. These companies do massive data calculations to make sure they are not in the negative.

                  They don’t just eyeball their prices and hope for the best.

                  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
                    link
                    fedilink
                    English
                    arrow-up
                    1
                    arrow-down
                    1
                    ·
                    1 year ago

                    Please present these statistics which can accurately predict, for example, a global pandemic which would overwhelm hospitals.

    • Amaltheamannen@lemmy.ml
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      5
      ·
      1 year ago

      And that the enjoyment of seeing the other person eating shit is more than the negative experience of doing it yourself