Prosperity

Prosperity

by Jack Butcher

"Prosperity is simply time saved." – Matt Ridley

A quote from the introduction of Rational Optimist. 

This aptly named book argues the case for the inevitability of human progress.

Rational Optimist cites both hard data and invites readers to reconsider the accuracy of their nostalgic feelings for times stripped of the comfort and conveniences we take for granted today.

A semi-sequel to the foundational economic principles outlined by Adam Smith in Wealth of Nations, Rational Optimist confirms the accuracy of Smith's 250-year-old predictions.

Our ability to specialize, design goods and services, and trade amongst ourselves is the driving force behind a macro trend of exponential increases in quality of life.

 

Prosperity by Visualize Value

Planting Seeds by Visualize Value
Planting Seeds

If you are building something, it is far more useful to focus on the work you are doing to produce the result than the result itself.

Labor vs. Vision
Labor vs. Vision
Labor is generally a more interchangeable resource than vision.
Inspiration
Inspiration

To help understand this idea, consider the contrast between the two concepts ancient Greeks used to think about time.

Up Only
Up Only

It should be relatively simple to identify when we aren't accumulating net new experience, but in practice, it doesn't seem to be.

Descriptions
Descriptions

Language is an incredible tool. It makes it possible for us to externalize what we think and communicate it to others.

Getting Value
Getting Value

"It's far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price." - Warren Buffett

Buying Time
Buying Time
The extent to which anything keeps working after you stop working is how much time you earn from making it.
Problems
Problems

To make progress, we must solve harder and harder problems in sequence.