Comment by HWR_14
2 days ago
If all your material wants could be supplied by replicators, and your service wants by an GAI computer, the need for most commerce would go towards zero. At that point, I can see people mostly having hobbies, whether its cooking so you open a restaurant or exploring on the Enterprise.
But in all those cases, you wouldn't need to charge, because what would you spend the money on?
This doesn't seem true. The luxury goods market is huge, and the utility of luxury goods vs basic goods is extremely little to none at all. People will still want to signal their status and will still find ways in a post-scarcity world.
I don't see why my replicator would not make a Birkin bag as easily as a Walmart brand purse.
People will still seek status, but luxury goods as a concept will cease to exist.
It would make getting a Birkin-like bag as easy as any other but not a Birkin Bag since Hermes owns and controls the distribution of those. You can already get a Birkin quality bag for a fraction of the price and you can get a Birkin looking bag for an even smaller fraction. Owning a Birkin bag has very little to do with its utility as a purse, but as a signal of your status since you can both afford and get invited to purchase one.