Trekonomics the economics of star trek

I am a huge davis aurini fan on a mission to post his older videos that were taken down a few years ago. Saadia explores the economics of the fictional world of star. And so that 20thcentury earthling got a quick lesson in 24th century postscarcity economics. Manu saadia, star trek fan and contributing writer for, has written a book that delves into the utopian economics of the trek universe. A star trek economic system may be closer than you think. A few years ago manu saadia, a longtime star trek fan, went looking for a book about the economics of star trek. After many happy years in the ivory tower, he yielded to his childhood passion for. Charlie jane anders, former editorinchief, io9 trekonomics is a fanciful romp through the economic theories that underpin final. The economic lessons of star treks moneyfree society. Economist paul krugman ponders the scifi economics of. Star treks pseudoeconomics foundation for economic.

Manu saadia joins us to discuss his new book trekonomics. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Star trek economics is just true communism arriving. Wellwritten, easy to read, and insightful, i highly recommend this book for star trek fans, whether hardcore or. Those who came to our live event with andy weir will know that our andrew has something of a disdain for. His work on trekonomics has been featured in the new york times, the washington post, the financial times, the wall street journal, and business insider. The economics of star trek kindle edition by saadia, manu. Could earth someday experience a star trek style of economics trekonomics, as coined in a book, in which there is no money or profit as we understand it today.

Dec 17, 2017 enter trekonomics, a book about the underlying economics of the star trek universe. They do have an economy and its not socialism or capitalism. The economics of star trek is a book by french economist manu saadia. Scarcity, productivity and public goods manu saadia fell into science fiction and star trek fandom at the age of eight, back in paris, france, where he was born and raised. But the socialism all happens quietly off screen, and its. The first being that you cant, on logical grounds, actually have an economics in such a world. Star trek is set in an amazing utopian universe of fasterthanlight t. The author describes the 24thcentury star trek universe in which scarcity does not exist at a. If you think about how our capitalist system is different in 2015 than it was in 1. One of the major issues was whether the trek universe is one of postscarcity, and the implications the popular science fiction franchise poses for traditional economic theory. In the world of star trek, there are a few, infrequent references in which we are told that the economy works somehow without prices. Oct 05, 2015 and theres really two things that we can say about that trekonomics, that economics of star trek. Trekonomics, by manu saadia, is book about the economics of star trek. While describing a postscarcity society, saadia admits that there are some resources that are scarce.

The economic lessons of star trek s moneyfree society kimberly frenchparamount pictures a few years ago manu saadia, a longtime star trek fan, went looking for a book about the economics of. Jake sisko quotes picards description of the economics of the future to nog. Manu studied history of science and economic history in paris and chicago. The economist offers authoritative insight and opinion on international news, politics, business, finance, science, technology and the connections between them. The author describes the 24thcentury star trek universe in which scarcity does not exist at all. The book deals with the topic of the scarcity in the economy by looking at it in reverse. Trekonomics is a pretty good read overall if you are looking for a lighthearted what if of the future. Almost a year ago i noted, regarding finding an old claim of the federation as communist. As manu saadia highlights in his book, trekonomics. Deep space nine has been labeled a postscarcity society due to the ability of the fictional replicator technology to synthesize a wide variety of goods nearly instantaneously, along with dialogue such as captain picards statement in the film star trek. Trekonomics or how star trek is the embodiment of wut. The book deals with the topic of the scarcity in the economy by looking at. The economics of star trek, money is no longer needed because technology has advanced so far that nearly everything is available with the touch of a button. Fortunately, it appears that my old postscarcity argument has been discussed and written about by.

Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading trekonomics. Oct 12, 2016 academic and longtime trekkie manu saadia examines the economic system of the united federation of planets in his book trekonomics. This is why sisko is the most badass captain duration. Manu saadia fell into science fiction and star trek fandom at the age of eight, back in paris, france, where he was born and raised manu studied history of science and economic history in paris and chicago. Manu saadia on trekonomics the economics of star trek. Manu saadia has managed to show us one more reason, perhaps the most compelling one of all, why we all need the world of star trek to one day become the world we live in.

The economics of star trek by manu saadia, i was intrigued enough to check out the book for myself. And theres really two things that we can say about that trekonomics, that economics of star trek. So when a recent youtube video on the economics of star trek namechecked trekonomics. The economic lessons of star treks moneyfree society wired. Like star trek itself, the book is about more than spaceships and aliens. The result, trekonomics, has drawn praise from economists such as brad. The protopostscarcity society is finally available in book form, expanded and annotated. Chris black, writer and coexecutive producer, star trek. This strikes me as odd, because star trek is very conspicuously not about economics.

Its also a universe where war and poverty have been eradicated, money doesnt. The economics of the future are different as picard explains. When looking at the economics of star trek, there have been three broad approaches in the past. The fiftyyear mission is a noholdsbarred oral history of five decades of star trek, told by the people who were there. Anna north writes about star trek s posteconomic system, in which money no longer exists and anything you want can be made in a replicator, essentially for free. Barr december 17, 2017 to boldly go where no one has gone before is, at its heart, a call for humanity to explore itself, and seek what might be possible for our modern society a century or two hence. It nicely parts the curtain, if you will, and shows the economic superstructure of this future. Smart, funny, and wise, this book is a great work of analysis for fans of star trek, and a call to arms for fans of economic justice.

But economists and geeks joined forces at the recent new york comic con to discuss trekonomics, the economics of star trek. Summary edit blurb five years after its original publication on medium, the economics of star trek. May 17, 2018 star trek was a militaryexplorer fantasy set in a handwavium universe produced by people incapable of deep thought about economics. Charlie jane anders, former editorinchief, io9 trekonomics is a fanciful romp through the economic theories that underpin final frontier. But for all its staying power in the rest of academia, star trek is almost nowhere to be found in economics, according to manu saadia, author of the forthcoming book trekonomics. The replicators accessible by everyone generate food, clothing, musical. He points out that abundance does not necessarily lead to universal prosperity, and draws on the themes from the various series to illuminate otherwise abstruse economic concepts. You can have anything you want at any time, anywhere, on demand. Manu saadia starts with a look at how treks utopian society is built on a postscarcity economic system where everyone shares in the abundance. As manu saadia highlights in his book trekonomics, the star trek universe is characterized by several key features. The original star trek series debuted in 1966 and has spawned five tv series spinoffs and a dozen feature films, with an upcoming one from paramount arriving in 2016. The wrath of coin ksm s01 ep52 trekonomics youtube. The economics of star trek is available from amazon.

As a fellow trekkie and policy nerd, this was the perfect book for me. What the trekonomics fantasy gets wrong about the economics. Krugman is a nobel laureate, columnist at the new york times, and a really big scifi fan. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The economics of star trek i am very pleased to see the widespread discussion of my old idea of trek being a postscarcity economic model. As such, it offers a lighthearted challenge for us to wrestle with the economic elements that will one day make up our future, and some of which are already here. No theory of star trek economics can be real while ignoring this fact. Saadia explores the economics of the fictional world of star trek with a real passion and clarity that made this exploration of the dismal science interesting. Trekonomics, the first book from financial journalist felix salmons imprint pipertext, approaches scarcity economics by coming at it backwards. Hear from the hundreds of television and film executives, programmers, writers, creators, and cast as they.

Yet the author of this piece is an expert at such overanalysis, because he has written a whole book on trekonomics, the economics of the fictional society in the star trek franchise. Since we are likely headed to some version of this future, we can look to the show for guidance. A new star trek nonfiction book currently in the fundraising stage will delve into the economics of star trek. He studied history of science and economic history in paris and chicago. Sep 06, 2011 jake sisko quotes picards description of the economics of the future to nog. Manu saadia uses star trek to examine postscarcity economics and the cultural changes that go with it. The economics of star trek foreword by brad delong. It explains how a world without money, labor and trade can exist in. Most installments of the franchise take place on governmentrun ships. In trekonomics, manu saadia explores the socioeconomic implications of the replicator as it has. The economics of star trek and he joins us for this episode of the cosmic shed podcast obviously, were no strangers to star trek with previous guests including marina sirtis, nichelle nichols and benedict cumberbatch but economics is new to us. Murphy as a lover of science fiction, and equally a writer of science and technology, theres no other scifi tv series that i can think of that influenced and inspired me more than star trek.

January 17, 2020 january 17, 2020 greyhawk grognard uncategorized star trek 7 comments on the economics of star trek in a forum i frequent, the question of the economic system of star trek came up, and as someone who is both a fan of free market capitalism, and also very involved in postscarcity economic theory, i had a few thoughts. Academic and longtime trekkie manu saadia examines the economic system of the united federation of planets in his book trekonomics. Yet, star trek does not owe its enduring popularity and its place in our collective imagination to its aliens or to. Manu saadia was born in paris, france, where he fell into science fiction and star trek fandom at the age of eight. Unfortunately, i havent been able to find every video, but if you have found a video i. The economics of star trek and he joins us for this episode of the cosmic shed podcast. Enter trekonomics, a book about the underlying economics of the star trek universe. Star trek economist world news, politics, economics. One of the shows visionary elements was the economic world it portrays. A conversation with trekonomics author manu saadia by b. He mainly focuses on dilithium crystals that are the source of energy in the star trek universe. Jan 17, 2017 yet the author of this piece is an expert at such overanalysis, because he has written a whole book on trekonomics, the economics of the fictional society in the star trek franchise. According to manu saadia, the author of trekonomics, a forthcoming book about the economics of the star t.

Jul 03, 2015 a new star trek nonfiction book currently in the fundraising stage will delve into the economics of star trek. Hear from the hundreds of television and film executives. Star trek is set in an amazing utopian universe of fasterthanlight travel, of beam me up, scotty, and vulcan salutes. The economics of star trek, the first release from the new imprint pipertext, founded by finance journalist felix salmon. Or how dilithium, replicators and the ferengi explain our actual economy, according to the author of trekonomics. Sep 20, 2016 he calls this economic system trekonomics. Jul 07, 2015 but for all its staying power in the rest of academia, star trek is almost nowhere to be found in economics, according to manu saadia, author of the forthcoming book trekonomics. The economics of star trek piper text publishing, 2016. May 31, 2016 manu saadia was born in paris, france, where he fell into science fiction and star trek fandom at the age of eight. Sluts, whores, and the economics of the star trek universe. Any exploration of their economic presumptions ranks on a par with examination of the economics of greek myths except that the latter might conceivably carefully look at the inflationary effects of king midas.

In trekonomics, saadia reminds us of what made star trek such a bold experiment in the first place. When originally published, the economics of star trek garnered over a half a million reads, and was featured twice on the home page of reddit. What is the economic system of the star trek federation. Publishers weekly saadia proves that star trek is an even more valuable cultural icon than we ever suspected. Star trek is set in an amazing utopian universe of fasterthanlight travel. Trekonomics is an accessible, engaging, and discussionprovoking look at the economics of star trek. What the economics of star trek can teach us about the real world.