research

research is an area where, unless there is a pressing reason to do it, research becomes a low priority.  governments always have a vast array of things to spend money on, and there is never enough tax income that has been successfully extorted from the populace.  if government isn't stumping up the funds, the only options remaining are venture capital (restricted to research where there is a reasonable prospect of profit), or failing that, charity.

to my mind, research is the greatest hope of humanity.  the technological breakthroughs in the past have so immeasurably improved the quality of life for so many people, it seems to me one of the highest priorities in human society should be continued research, specifically in the desired outcomes of society (as per the measuring success post, i suggest the following as societal goals: longer lifespan; healthier; safer; happier; more productive; better educated).

it is a shame that, unless the economic elite that control the funding think there is a reasonable chance of profit that will therefore improve their economic power, the only time research is prioritised is at times of crisis.  like a virulent new disease sweeping the world, or a world war.

so i think a shift to an 'ample' economic paradigm (ample-nomics?) where profit is no longer worshipped and  no longer dictates the economic decision making would prove beneficial to research.  specifics of how i think  research would occur:

1)  businesses are very easy to start in an ample system, effectively just needing to demonstrate demand for the product, and have the administrative skills to write up a coherent business plan and maintain adequate records to satisfy the auditors.  so conceptually, research on new products no longer need to attract funding, no longer need to pass the profitability test, so long as there is demand for the product and they maintain adequate efficiency to escape being culled by the auditors (note - i really should define efficiency as it would be measured by the auditors).

2)  this demand can be from citizens or from existing businesses, and in an ample system, anything that can be pushed out of a 'government organisation', would be.  so hospitals, schools, transport, transport systems, anything where a product or service is being provided, i envisage being operated as a private business with the same dual goals of satisfying demand and maximising efficiency.  therefore all these private businesses can undertake more research themselves, as they are no longer constrained by the profit / breakeven paradigm, but also provide demand for other research businesses (ie businesses whose product / service is pure research).  there would still be government in an ample system, effectively setup by politicians where they think private / business demand is not providing a product or service that society needs (police, jails, national defence).  these organisations would still be subject to efficiency requirements, would be required to accountable and transparent with audits being published on government organisations, and ultimately the politicians would be answerable to the citizens come election times.

3)  anything not achieved via the above 2 concepts, same as large infrastructure, could put up a prospectus on the online marketplace, which citizens or businesses could allocate hours to.  so for example, space technology and exploration.  this is basically the same as charity in the current system, and would therefore probably only work for 'cool' research.  any research that isn't cool, or isn't in demand, probably unlikely to get much traction.  but that is the same as capitalism anyway.

i envisage people having  more time in an ample system.  profits aren't quarantined to an elite few but shared by everyone.  people currently classified as unemployed would be contributing at least minimum hours to qualify for their basic needs (which means the labour pool would increase by 5%-15% based on official stats, plus all those who are missed in the stats as they are not looking for work, have given up, are not fully employed etc).  businesses would be so easy to start, and there would be such an abundant workforce, that i envisage higher production, in that there would be the same physical assets, but increased workforce to extract goods and services.  and many, maybe most, would work more than the minimum hours to enable a higher quality of life / level of luxuries.

obviously some of the population would spend spare time and resources on just R&R, that is their choice.  but i think a fair portion of the populace would use the increased freedom to get education, training, take classes on hobbies, and assisting research and inventing things.