The economics of Star Trek

Joseph Dickerson@josephdickerson

Background

“The Federation is a proto-post scarcity society evolved from democratic capitalism. It is, essentially, European socialist capitalism vastly expanded to the point where no one has to work unless they want to.”

Rick Webb, The Economics of Star Trek

“But… but that’s communism!”

No, it’s not.

Post-scarcity is an alternative form of economics or social engineering in which goods, services and information are universally accessible. This would require a sophisticated system of resource recycling, in conjunction with technologically advanced automated systems capable of converting raw materials into finished goods.

Post scarcity economy

Why have a huge labor pool when 10% of the population can do the work required for the rest?

Jobs are optional

What is wealth when everyone has a base standard of living?

Wealth will be more about experiences than the acquisition of things

There will be a different idea of

“wealth”

Nothing will every be perfect…

Some things will still be rare

And the rarest of things will be… talent

Post scarcity isn’t an all or nothing

thing

Chateau Picard or Sisko’s restaurant are not money-making endeavors - they are creative pursuits

Talent, Craftsmanship and creativity

can’t be replicated

But what about the workers?

Maybe the people who serve the customers at Sisko’s are doing it not to get paid but maybe they do it to engage with different races and cultures - or may be they do it to get to enjoy the (hand-crafted) food themselves - like a barter system

What about Federation credits and

gold-pressed latinum?

Federation credits are just that - credits. It’s a “currency” that allows its owners to get Federation services in return

It could be replicator time, or computer cycles, or even the use of a small ship

It’s used to have commerce with other worlds and races who aren’t in the Federation

You can also look at them as “energy units”

Federation Credits

It’s one of those non-Federation units of currency

“As a Federation Citizen I can have gold-pressed latinum, Federation Credits, Frangs, Darseks, Isiks, Leks, or Quatloos in my wallet. I can have a wallet. I can buy things with Self Sealing Stem Bolts if I want. But none of that is in conflict with the fact that the Federation has no unit of currency and is predominantly concerned with societal good and self improvement.” - Webb

Gold-pressed Latinum

It’s happening… or at least being discussed… now.

Can it actually happen?

We may never get there… but I think we can.

Conclusion

Thanks!

Joseph Dickerson@josephdickerson