There is a trade-off that has been made that I feel like we rarely think about but we should. It's a trade-off between free time and wealth.
To oversimplify it a bit: Once upon a time in the distant past people had to work a lot just to feed themselves. Then the industrial revolution happened and the information revolution and at this point one farmer can literally produce enough food to feed 155 people.
Now, obviously most of us wouldn't be happy ONLY having food. We need a house to sleep in, we need water to drink, we need heat and clothing. And, of course, it's nice to have things like electricity, video games, etc.
But the basic point is that productivity has risen… like a LOT for humanity. Workers have been producing more and more and more wealth over the last few decades and yet over the same time working hours have not been reduced. In fact, lots of people have more than one job instead.
And even putting aside the fact that the resulting wealth has not been distributed correctly, there's still a trade-off that is being made here between free time and wealth.
The trade-off is that as productivity rises there are essentially two options: You can either work less and maintain the same amount of wealth in society or work just as much as before and have more wealth in society.
And over the last few decades society has consistently been choosing option 2 and yet I feel like most people don't even stop to think about the fact that this IS a choice. It is a choice that has been made for us and that we've just accepted.
We all want more wealth, of course. But where is the line?
Everyone working 1 hour a day and not having enough food in society to feed everyone? Probably not good.
Everyone working 2 hours a day and only having the basics like food, water and housing but no electricity? Maybe, but I also wouldn't be satisfied with this.
Everyone working 4 hours a day and having basically the basics like food, water and housing and also some amenities like video games and computers? Maybe just less of an ability to travel, maybe just less impressive cars or one fewer flavour of ice cream or whatever. Would you really miss that? I think I'd be fine with that trade-off.
Now, just to clarify: I don't know what the exact numbers are. I don't know what the exact trade-off would be. What I do know though is that society is making that trade-off. And we are making it every day. Because a choice was made for us without most of us even realizing that it has been made.
And that choice is to always prioritize more wealth in society over more free time. And I happen to think it's time to rethink that choice.