A Future Without Work
A Future Without Work
Fully Automated Luxury Communism (FALC) could free us from the capitalist shackles of useless toil.
Can you imagine a world in which nobody has to work anymore? A world in which people are free — truly free to pursue their passions, dreams, and interests?
Fully Automated Luxury Communism (FALC) is a vision for a future in which technology and automation have advanced to the point where work is no longer a necessity for survival, as the provision of basic necessities such as food, housing, and healthcare would be automated and provided to all — irrespective of wealth, social status or income.
It’s a world in which people don’t have to decide between watching their children grow up and working to provide for them. A world without poverty, the unrelenting pressure to earn money, and a world without bullshit jobs that serve no purpose whatsoever.
When living to work doesn’t work anymore
In recent years, the conversation surrounding automation and its effects on the world of work has been marked by a sense of dread and fear. Numerous studies have been published on the topic, with predictions ranging from the automation of 20% of jobs to over 50%, or even all of them.
Regardless of the specific figures, the overall sentiment is one of concern, with dire warnings of mass unemployment and poverty in the near future. Is that true?
In economics, there is a well-known conundrum related to economic prosperity. Employers want cheap labor, but they also need customers who can afford to buy their products. Well, you can’t have both.
In the 1950s, Henry Ford II, owner of the automobile manufacturer Ford, famously asked the head of the automobile union: “How are you going to get these robots to pay membership fees?” The union leader answered: “Henry, how are you going to get them to buy your cars?” Neither of them had an answer.
Another issue that recently emerged is increasing productivity. As technology advances, fewer workers are needed to produce goods and services for an ever-growing number of consumers. Also, wages are increasing (in the long term and on average, at least), and working people are becoming more demanding (rightfully so). Younger generations are not willing to sacrifice their lives for their jobs.
Robots, on the other hand, do not tire, make mistakes, form unions, demand wage increases, or become pregnant. The first robot taxis and self-driving cars and trucks are (unfortunately) expected to hit the streets in the near future. Fully automated supermarkets are already a reality, and many other jobs are also at risk (see the emergence of ChatGPT and the like). The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the trend toward automation significantly.
Fully Automated Luxury Communism (FALC)
However, according to journalist and author Aaron Bastani, automation should not be viewed as a threat, but as an opportunity. In 2019, he released a manifesto titled Fully Automated Luxury Communism (it’s a good read) in which he developed a utopian vision of a society in which machines generate our wealth and people can devote themselves to their passions, hobbies, and families.
Bastani’s vision is one in which technological advancements eliminate (artificial) shortages and the need for people to work. Everyone would live in luxury and have the freedom to spend their time as they please.
Everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status, would have equal access to education, healthcare, and information. Thousands of years of human progress would finally result in greater happiness and freedom for all and not merely the wealthy few.
No one who lives in poverty is truly free — it’s a central theme here at Beneath the Pavement.
Frugality, simple living, FIRE, and shorter working weeks
Young Karl Marx dreamed of being able to do whatever he pleased. Being a fisherman one day, a volunteer in a retirement home the next, and a history teacher the one after that — that shouldn’t be impossible.
In the mid-20th century, economists predicted that workweeks would be reduced to 20 hours, or even 15 hours, by the late 2020s. While we have not yet reached that point, the long-term trend is certainly pointing in that direction (in the short term, working conditions have dramatically worsened, of course).
Currently, the ideas of four-day or 30-hour working weeks are being tested in many countries around the globe (with very promising results regarding happiness as well as productivity).
Additionally, movements such as frugal or simple living, which emphasize the desire for a simpler lifestyle without the need for excessive wealth, and FIRE (‘Financial Independence, Retire Early’) are gaining popularity on Reddit forums and beyond. These movements ultimately all share the same goal: breaking free from the constraints of capitalism and the crushing pressure to constantly be productive.
Even more radical is the concept of a Universal Basic Income (UBI) which would imply an utter dismissal of the current capitalist order. I’ll discuss the concept in much detail in an upcoming essay.
The Utopia we (don’t?) want
According to Bastani and other utopian thinkers, the world of tomorrow might look something like this:
People are transported in fully automated taxis, and self-directed drones are used to deliver packages and groceries in a matter of minutes. In fully automated factories, robots manufacture other robots, and 3D printers are used to create houses, furniture, electronics, and everything else.
While your AI assistant plans your next vacation and social gatherings, you can finally read all those classics you never had time for, write your own novels (with the help of a writing AI, of course), design and create new things, be an educator, scientist, explore space, or, if you prefer, help coordinate and supervise the automated world.
Fruits and vegetables are cultivated in large community gardens, artificial and carbon-neutral meat is consumed at barbecues. All software is open source; everybody can improve or change it.
There are no companies, there is no profit-driven market, there are no billionaires, no third-world countries. We’d finally live in harmony with our surroundings, instead of destroying them for endless growth. Solar and wind power have made coal, gas, and oil irrelevant a long time ago. Nuclear fusion power plants are a reality. The last war has been fought back in 2023. Barbaric times.
Only one thing is certain: Capitalism has failed
The above-mentioned utopian future could become reality, according to Bastani and other techno-enthusiasts. All it takes is the will to do it.
However, there is a problem. It is known as capitalism.
While our current capitalist system could, theoretically, create Bastani’s post-scarcity world, it will never allow for the fruits of progress to be evenly distributed. Capitalism is a system that produces goods for profit and profit only, which implies that resources must be rationed to ensure shareholder return. Future businesses, like today’s, will seek to monopolize and profit at the expense of workers and the environment. A situation that inevitably leads to enclosure and artificial scarcity.
To go beyond capitalism, radical political changes are necessary. There is hope. As a teacher, I can attest to the fact that new generations care more about each other than the ones before. They care about the environment. They care about cities that are worth living in. Cities that aren’t built for cars, but for people. They care about their future.
They are fighting for it, against all odds, and all ridicule from older generations. Because everyone who came before them has failed, they will have to change the world. I’m trying to do my humble part.
I’m author, writer, and activist Antonio Melonio, the creator of Beneath the Pavement. If you enjoyed this piece, please consider becoming a paid subscriber here on Substack or over on Patreon. It’s the best way to support Beneath the Pavement and help me put out more and higher-quality content.
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Sources and further reading
Bastani, A. (2019). Fully Automated Luxury Communism. Verso Books.
Forbes. Do We Need Fully Automated Luxury Communism? https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielaraya/2019/09/18/do-we-need-fully-automated-luxury-communism/?sh=461f78d12670
Job Automation Risks in 2023: How Robots Affect Employment | Research.com
The Atlantic. Give Us Fully Automated Luxury Communism. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/06/give-us-fully-automated-luxury-communism/592099/
The Guardian. Fully automated luxury communism. https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/mar/18/fully-automated-luxury-communism-robots-employment
Wall Street Journal. Automated Luxury Communism? https://www.wsj.com/articles/automated-luxury-communism-11621185487