1\ A fun paradox of economics:
If you can identify the jobs that a policy will "create", that policy almost certainly destroys net jobs
If you can identify the jobs that a new technology will destroy, that technology almost certainly creates net jobs
If you can identify the jobs that a policy will "create", that policy almost certainly destroys net jobs
If you can identify the jobs that a new technology will destroy, that technology almost certainly creates net jobs
2\ In the first case, the usual reason you know a policy will "create" jobs is because you know it is replacing an efficient process with an inefficient one
E.g. replacing fossil fuels with solar "creates" energy jobs, but destroys net jobs by making society diffusely poorer
E.g. replacing fossil fuels with solar "creates" energy jobs, but destroys net jobs by making society diffusely poorer
3\ In the second case, a technology can "destroy" the jobs it makes redundant, but by allowing resources to be better allocated, it frees society to employ labor in novel roles
"We are all unemployed farmers"
"We are all unemployed farmers"
4\ Of course, some policies do create net jobs. But these are usually negative policies, i.e. repealing some previous bad policy
E.g. eliminating the minimum wage creates new jobs instantly
E.g. eliminating the minimum wage creates new jobs instantly
5\ I should have distinguished between "jobs" and "job types" in this thread
E.g. you can get full employment under communism, but that's because everyone ends up a farmer
E.g. you can get full employment under communism, but that's because everyone ends up a farmer
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