this post was submitted on 19 Sep 2023
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Work Reform

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[โ€“] [email protected] 26 points 1 year ago (2 children)

This is actually an example in The Wealth of Nations; Adam Smith considers whether a hooligan smashing a window is a benefit to society because it creates work for the glazier.

Smith concluded that no, it isn't a net benefit because the glazier could have made a new window instead.

However, given that megayachts are net negative to society, I'm not sure how he'd view this case.