Advanced Economic Consequences of ~Free Energy

Let us imagine that we hve energy that is circa free. It requires some technical control and infrastructure to run, maintain, and supply the world, but beyond that the energy is basically costless. The economic results of such a condition, which is attainable, would be magnificent.

Let's take some spot examples. How much would it cost for a pound of flat rice? Normally this would cost like a buck. That accounts for fertilizer, irrigation, labor, processing, shipping, and tax.

The cost of fertilizer would be reduced because the chemical process of refining would have no energy constraints. Somewhat inefficient processes that had higher volume yields would be suitable. Efficient processes that were most desirable would be lower in cost, and expanding that process would be easier. The cost and scarcity of labor for workers to be there [time], paid[$], and to create and maintain the machines [infrastructure] would also be lesser. Shipping the fertilizer would be cheaper, as it is sure heavy. Spreading it would be done on cheaper machines running on free energy by less costly work markets.

Irrigation would be cheaper to dig because the machines to do it would run on free energy, the and the cost of digging, refining, and shaping the metal of the machines would be lesser. The cost to pump or even refine the water will be minimal once the motor has been installed.

The labor involved in producing the rice, and in producing most things, will not decrease. The work world will resemble the real world on a high level. We could afford and expedite the introduction of robotics to the workforce, but most things will still need technical handling or manually operating a machine to make do. Workers also would require less salary because their expenses and world expense would decrease. They would not need the estimated $7500 or more annually to run their car, heat their home, run their appliances, and the cost of these appliances, cars, and homes would decrease as well because the industry would not have to pay for energy, materials handlers would nto have to pay for energy, and the most constructive methods could be used without substantial regard to energy producing the greatest non-energy efficiency methods of production for all things. Taxes would be lowered by the same degree. The cost in the market might deflate by as much as half, or more, once all the air was squeezed out through the supply chain. Cost of living would probably decrease by a greater margin than half.

Labor supply would be affected as well. Many more jobs would be replaced by machines, but social support and material support would increase tenfold, demand would certainly not decrease, and would probably increase from numerous people being lifted out of poverty by charity and new social and infrastructure arrangements. Even with enhanced robotics and decreased business expenses, many many new jobs could open and the cost of starting a business would plummet.

This is the description of business becoming dramatically more efficient. To the Old Guard: That is *good* for the marketplace and for society. Just beating budget is not. A swollen beauracracy does not serve people, it complicates their lives. "I ran out of papers to file" is not a bad thing. It means you can go hiking, or work on something else.

In the same way, processing the rice would be done by a free running cheaper machine and shipping it would occur on a free energy cheaper boat or truck, and cooking it would require a stove and no money to run it.

Tax would likely pay for the power plants made to build the energy, and for materials and machines needed to maintain society. What would we need a military for? To defend ourselves from marauders, but what would marauders want? Our spiols would be as plentiful as the grass in the fields, as the waters in the ocean. They would not use up the cost of time to walk over here and the social offense of taking something from someone else when it is good as free worldwide. It would be more work to steal than to work. War would be sport, or foolishness. We'd beat our swords into plowshares.

Bring me the hammer.

"Old is for when you don't feel super special excellent. Does fun get old? Does awesome get old? Then you're old."