The Utopia Paradox: Reimagining Growth, Happiness, and the War on Unearned Income
In our previous installment , we explored the remarkable case of the Netherlands and its "invention of capital," delving into the critical importance of productive asset income and the necessary conditions for national prosperity in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This week, our journey with Professor Kim Tae-yoo confronts one of the most contentious and deeply felt debates in modern societies: the complex relationship between economic growth and human happiness . In many advanced economies, a powerful narrative has taken hold, suggesting that "we are already prosperous enough; further growth is unnecessary," or even that "the relentless pursuit of growth and excessive competition are the very things making us unhappy." But is this truly the case? Professor Kim challenges this perspective by invoking a powerful historical touchstone: the idealized society envisioned 500 years ago by Sir Thomas More in his seminal work, Utopia . He suggests th...
