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but amazonians people still eat... Replace "work" by "activity" if you think the word is too much western centered. You will still have a fact: these guys spend some time looking for food and some time doing other things. The choice between time spent looking for food and time spent doing other things reflect a value, and therefore an economic system.

The fact that, in that kind of cultural environement, people do not consider as a need the use of TV entertainment or whatever only says something about their cultural values. Not about the existence of men, of man made objects and of natural resources needed to craft these man-made objects. Work, capital and resources. Economy.

I really want to make clear that "work", in my post, is not equivalent to "wage-earning job" or other system we know. "Capital" is not equivalent to "money". But I don't think it is possible to avoid looking at these three production factors, whichever denomination you use. Even animals will have to evolve in this frame. It's some kind of population dynamics study.

I prefer using terms already defined rather than having to recall my own definitions each time. Because the important thing for me is more on the discussion of the set of rules to choose, as a society, to regulate these three factors. Should we give precedence to capital, to work, to natural resources? What is the maximum amount of work that can be used at a given time? (ie: productivity, worked hours...) What is the right use of natural resources? Should we use all our knowledge to produce things without regards to the resources available? should we force a reduction of work hours so as to reduce the amount of natural resources used and have more time to do other things?

by Xavier in Paris on Wed Nov 20th, 2013 at 03:38:39 PM EST
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