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
You must log in or # to comment.
Not going to disagree that GDP is a bad measure of economic productivity, but, theoretically, in this case both the economists also got utility by enjoying themselves by paying the other to see them eat excrement. Assuming humans to be rational, it could be argued that there was a net gain of utility (if 100 $ is worth more than what you lose from eating excrement) or at least remained the same, since the buyers considered the entertainment they get to be worth at least 100 $ and that the service providers considered their service to be worth less than 100 $).
But now I feel stupid for writing this.
The whole assuming humans to be rational part is what messes up the calculation.
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.
So you’re saying capitalism will literally never work? Based.
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.
So long as we never have to use this time machine, it works perfectly!
So only in our dreams. Got it
Well, it turns out they’re nightmares at the moment, but yes, basically.
But now I feel stupid for writing this.
Don’t stop now, keep going and you’ll be writing financial regulations in no time!
I hope they each paid income tax on those earnings!
GDP is worse metric than defference of average color in image compression
Cool now I imagine an economist wearing a shit-eating grin saying, “Do I look like I know what a JPEG is?”
Difference of average color is so cringe even for JPEG-1, that encoders use at least PSNR(which is still shitty) or sometimes SSIM. There are other metrics like butteraguli too.
Also they got to see someone eat a pile of shit. Worth it.
I love how you people really believe this dumb story 🤣
As if the broken premise isn’t needed to have it even approach the reality.
I love how you people really behind this dumb story
Nice grammar. Keep studying.
Hurr hurr typo, gotem 🙄.
what? this didn’t actually happen it’s clearly a metaphor for something
