Notes

Disruptive 3D Technology Considered
The other day our think tank was discussing the challenges of 3-D printing and how "Capitalism will quickly suffer damage when 3D printing starts to affect the retail distribution chain." Consider in the event that you will that in the foreseeable future people will undoubtedly be 3D printing in the home using carbon composite layering graphene, metallic materials, plastics, ceramic materials, etc. - people won't need to go to a retail store to buy cheap products, they can merely print them within their living room. Think about the jobs at the major retailers, think about the management in retail, the buyers, truck drivers, warehouse staff? Those jobs gone?

When does this happen - as 3D printing technology matures. How fast will that happen - as fast since it takes for people to print out the brand new evolutions of these 3D printers at home. Basically, the technology will outpace the power of the markets to react. Capitalism is very good at eliminating losers. The problem is that retail is a loser almost overnight (10-15 years). Enjoy watching the few remaining Macy's Thanksgiving Day parades.

One think tanker who leans left-politically suggested that "We need to prepare government to step in and soften the coming economic shocks. People with no hope of finding work will require food, shelter and health care."

Not fast, my capitalist brain screams - you see, yes, disruptive technology always threatens the incumbents in the market-place, but that's okay, if the free-market is working right, everything re-adjusts. If we've crony capitalism subsidizing, or governments nationalizing to prop up dying industries that's when we have problems.

In check here who use populist themes have to go with mob rule to bail-out or subsidize such old tech against the onslaught of the brand new. In free-market capitalism there will be shocks to the machine, however the system can realign alone and continue forward. Printing Press, Cotton Gin, TV, Flights, mobile phones, computers, etc. and yes, what comes next will also disrupt and when companies like Boeing have anything to say "It will fly like nothing else, and GE, DuPont, and other companies will buy up the innovators and ensure it is part of the new business units to carry on.

Why bother propping up things such as video rental stores or one-hour photo developing franchises? I guess, I've more belief in free markets, mostly in hindsight. But it will only work if we leave our hands off of it. Price controls, minimum wage laws, subsidies, each of them distort free markets, I worry more about that more than the next new thing on the bleeding age in the age of Singularity and the Internet of things. Think with this.

Lance Winslow has launched a fresh provocative series of eBooks on Innovation in the us. Lance Winslow is really a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net.
Homepage: https://www.8bitthis.com/multiple-myeloma-treatment/