All: Techno-economics

Gentlesophonts:

J Roberson [email removed] writes:

> >I *get* the *economic* fluctuation, what I don't get is how *technological*
> >ability gets tied to it!
>
> Try this: The knowledge exists, but is still very expensive.

Right, but we're not talking about knowledge here, we're talking about
the ability to *produce* a certain level of technology, i.e. industry.
(Tech level 15 *knowledge* ought to be available from your local library
data terminal on most Imperial worlds.)  For the ability to *produce* a
certain level of technology to `go away' you'd have to have a *severe*
economic down turn like the Long Night or the Viral Collapse.

> An example
> might be our very own space program. How many projects have been cancelled
> or postponed because of budget constraints? (With the number of NASA people
> on the list I'm sure I'll get an answer ;)

As one of those people and a long-time space advocate I have to admit that
*no* space project has been cancelled or postponed due to budgetary
constraints.  Budget decisions represent a redirection of *priorities*,
not a lack of economic resources.  In the same period that space technology
has been virtually stagnant (c1970 to the present) there have been
*tremendous* advances in computer, medical and biological technologies.
(Of course these fields haven't had the `advantage' of almost complete
government subsidy that the space program has had.)

> Money funds research. Research advances Technology. Therefore, economic
> fluctuations will affect the development of technology.

Yes, but it won't affect the ability to produce technology in the Imperium
where the higher tech knowledge already exists.  Neither does it explain
*reductions* in the ability to produce a certain level of technology.

A better example (Oh no, I'm making Hans's point!) might be to compare Detroit
to the Japanese automakers.  Because Nissan, Toyota and Honda were able to
produce higher quality automobiles more efficiently there was nearly a
*de facto* tech level drop in the US.  Nevertheless, even this example
only concerns a particular industry which might explain a drop in one
of the *WBH* tech level specialty areas.  An overall tech level drop would
have to affect *several* sectors at the same time.  IMHO, that could only
be caused by a major economic catastrophe.


James Kundert [email removed] asks:

>   All I ask is that the participants start editing in a more
> ruthless fashion

How am I doing?  :-)

Happy Travelling,

David Johnson
Houston, Texas, USA