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Bill Gates says a 3-day work week where 'machines can make all the food and stuff' isn't a bad idea (www.businessinsider.com)
submitted 2 years ago by [M, B] to c/technology@lemmy.world
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Bill Gates says a 3-day work week where 'machines can make all the food and stuff' isn't a bad idea::"A society where you only have to work three days a week, that's probably OK," Bill Gates said.

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[–] 93 points 2 years ago* (2 children)

It has never been a technology problem.

If society was build correct in a democracy, advances in all fields would always be for benefitting the people and the majority.

This has been a problem ever since the industrial revolution and what caused the great depression.

If technology advances to a stage where we only need 75% of the current work force, the answer is not to fire 25%. It is for everyone to benefit and work 25% less or get 25% more pay. (or 12,5% work less and 12,5% more pay. Our choice)

That is a working democracy.

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  • [–] 13 points 2 years ago

    You should get 33% more pay as the full work force productivity would be 4/3 of the original in your example.

    This difference might be clearer with an example where only half of the work force is required to match the original productivity. In this case, if the full work force continues to work, productivity is presumably doubled. That's not a 50% increase. It's 200% of the original or a 100% increase. So the trade-off should be between 50% fewer working hours and 100% more pay.

    Of course, instead you'll work the same hours for the same pay and some shareholders pocket that 100% difference.

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