Difference between revisions of "Gain from effort"

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(rewritten/adapted from "profit" page)
 
(examples rephrased and given their own section)
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[[Economic gain]] is an idea basic to all life. It should not be (but often is) confused with [[profit]], which cannot exist independent of a [[capitalist]] [[society]].
 
[[Economic gain]] is an idea basic to all life. It should not be (but often is) confused with [[profit]], which cannot exist independent of a [[capitalist]] [[society]].
 
===Definition===
 
===Definition===
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Economic gain occurs when an entity expends a particular type of value on a particular project which then returns greater value than was originally spent.  
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Economic gain occurs when an entity expends a particular type of [[value]] on a particular project which then returns greater value than was originally spent.  
  
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An "entity" can be, for example:
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===Examples===
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* an individual organism -- expending stored energy to gain food, which can be consumed to replenish that energy as well as provide extra energy (profit) for non-food-gathering activities
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* An individual organism expends stored energy to gain food, which can be consumed to replenish that energy as well as provide extra energy for non-food-gathering activities.
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* an individual's possessions -- planting some grain instead of eating it in order to grow more grain (profit)
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* An individual or group plants some grain (instead of eating it) in order to grow more grain.
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* a group of people --
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* A group of people --
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** trading food for tools to help grow or gather more food
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** trades food for tools to help grow or gather more food.
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** constructing defenses around a village to protect people and possessions
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** constructs defenses around a village to protect people and possessions from animals or hostile people.
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** tending to the sick so that their skills and knowledge will remain available on recovery
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** tends to the sick so that their skills and knowledge will not be lost.
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** providing sustenance for the infirm, so that their wisdom will remain available
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** provides sustenance for the infirm, so that their wisdom will remain available.
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* a society --
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* A society --
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** spending time and energy to make paths so that travel takes less time and energy
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** spends time and energy to make paths so that travel takes less time and energy.
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** tending to "useless" members of society in order to cultivate empathy and kindness
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** ministers to "useless" members of society in order to cultivate empathy and kindness.
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** spending resources creating art in order to increase general enjoyment of life
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** expends resources creating art in order to increase general enjoyment of life and promote cultural bonding.
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** providing mutual protection and aid to minimize attrition from major mishaps too large for individuals to overcome alone
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** provides mutual protection and aid to minimize attrition from major mishaps too large for individuals to overcome alone.
  
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Although this activity could be described as "profit" from "investment", it is not:
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Although these activities could be described as "profit" from "investment", they are not; see [[economic gain vs. profit]].
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* '''Investment''' requires a socially-enforceable [[contract]] to repay a ''loan''.
 
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* '''Loaning''' requires social recognition that the owner of the loaned value continues to own it even while it is "invested".
 
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* '''Profit''' requires social recognition that the owner of the loaned value is entitled to ''all of the economic gain'' from its "investment".
 
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Economic gain does not require any of these things. In the examples given above, it merely makes use of known natural laws or behaviors to produce net-positive benefit. One or more entities may be held responsible if the project does not do as well as expected, but nobody would be expected to "repay" the expended value as if it were merely a "loan".
 

Revision as of 02:46, 2 July 2013

About

Economic gain is an idea basic to all life. It should not be (but often is) confused with profit, which cannot exist independent of a capitalist society.

Definition

Economic gain occurs when an entity expends a particular type of value on a particular project which then returns greater value than was originally spent.

Examples

  • An individual organism expends stored energy to gain food, which can be consumed to replenish that energy as well as provide extra energy for non-food-gathering activities.
  • An individual or group plants some grain (instead of eating it) in order to grow more grain.
  • A group of people --
    • trades food for tools to help grow or gather more food.
    • constructs defenses around a village to protect people and possessions from animals or hostile people.
    • tends to the sick so that their skills and knowledge will not be lost.
    • provides sustenance for the infirm, so that their wisdom will remain available.
  • A society --
    • spends time and energy to make paths so that travel takes less time and energy.
    • ministers to "useless" members of society in order to cultivate empathy and kindness.
    • expends resources creating art in order to increase general enjoyment of life and promote cultural bonding.
    • provides mutual protection and aid to minimize attrition from major mishaps too large for individuals to overcome alone.

Although these activities could be described as "profit" from "investment", they are not; see economic gain vs. profit.

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