zlacker

>>vermon+(OP)
This article was very confusing and difficult to read. There seems to be a conflation of workers being replaced 'robots' (Human teller -> ATM) and the process by which humans are simply more productive through augmentation (Manager with paper ledger -> Manager with inventory system).

There are some nasty potential error sources when comparing productivity per country over time because they use different currencies with their own value changes over time. (Probably related to productivity, but lots of other factors)

And my biggest issue was the Wells Fargo twitter chart. Average growth per year is an ok tool, but it's simplistic. It gets really messed up when you consider a 5 year time frame 98-03 and a 10 year 04-14. With the straight averaging method compounded growth/loss gets messed up.

>>Terrib+5k
It's all the same thing from a high enough level. If your manager can do the work of two managers because he has an inventory system, you don't suddenly manage twice as much inventory (because everything else about your business doesn't change at the same time), you fire every other manager.

But the point is that society as a whole is richer because you can get a good from a manufacturer to a customer with less overall spending, and so while an individual inventory manager may or may not be able to get another job -- and might legitimately suffer -- ultimately the business does grow, and there are more jobs created than destroyed (though the created jobs may not be inventory manager jobs, and the displaced inventory managers may or may not ultimately benefit).

>>aether+Ho
"and there are more jobs created than destroyed"

Why? Well, I know its tradition to say it, but there appears to be no causal relationship, just occasional coincidence. The mathematical model would be interesting to see.