> You invest in a new machine that lets everyone be twice as productive. If you don't have demand for the extra output, then do you cut everyone's hours in half or let two people go?
You let two people go, and they go work at another factory that has higher demands for its products. Then that factory invests in a machine and the process repeats. The output of products increased with the same number of workers. This process is known as "The industrial revolution" and is generally considered a pretty neat thing, not "capitalism getting in the way".
> I think best bet to achieve that reality is to be your own boss.
You're absolutely right. I don't think it's coincidental that experiments with different styles of working (remote, flexible hours etc) is coming out of the businesses more associate with low-cost entrepreneurship (ie. the industries where the barrier to entry is a good brain and a laptop). Ironically, this is capitalism at its absolute best.
You let two people go, and they go work at another factory that has higher demands for its products. Then that factory invests in a machine and the process repeats. The output of products increased with the same number of workers. This process is known as "The industrial revolution" and is generally considered a pretty neat thing, not "capitalism getting in the way".
> I think best bet to achieve that reality is to be your own boss.
You're absolutely right. I don't think it's coincidental that experiments with different styles of working (remote, flexible hours etc) is coming out of the businesses more associate with low-cost entrepreneurship (ie. the industries where the barrier to entry is a good brain and a laptop). Ironically, this is capitalism at its absolute best.