> This is the leverage paradox. New technologies give us greater leverage to do more tasks better. But because this leverage is usually introduced into competitive environments, the result is that we end up having to work just as hard as before (if not harder) to remain competitive and keep up with the joneses.

Off-topic, but in biology circles I've heard this type of situation (where "it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place" because your competitors are constantly improving as well) called a "Red Queen's race" and really like the picture that analogy paints.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Queen%27s_race

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EGreg 6 days ago | parent | next [-]

Also known as induced demand, and why adding a lane on the highway doesn’t help for long

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induced_demand

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sefrost 6 days ago | parent [-]

I feel that I understand the leverage paradox concept, and the induced demand concept, but I don't understand how they are the same concept. Can you explain the connection a little more?

	▲	EGreg 6 days ago \| parent [-]
		More leverage = more productivity = more supply of good and services The induced remand for more goods and services therefore fills the gap, and causes people to work just as hard as before -- similarly to how a highway remains full after adding a lane

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Dracophoenix 6 days ago | parent | prev [-]

This circumstance is more commonly known as the Jevons Paradox

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jevons_paradox