The Economics of Star Trek
[法] Manu Saadia
résumé
Star Trek is set in an amazing utopian universe of faster-than-light travel, of “beam me up, Scotty,” and Vulcan salutes. It’s also a universe where war and poverty have been eradicated, money doesn’t exist, and work is indistinguishable from leisure. In this ground-breaking book, timed to coincide with the fiftieth anniversary of Star Trek ’s first episode, Manu Saadia takes a deep dive into the show’s most radical and provocative aspect: its detailed and consistent economic vision.
Could we create such a utopia here on Earth? And why has Star Trek ’s future had such staying power in our cultural imagination? Trekonomics looks at the morals, values, and hard economics that underpin the series’ ideal society, and its sources of inspiration both inside and outside the science-fiction canon. After reading this book, you’ll be able to answer the question: If you could live in Star Trek ’s economic utopia, would you want to?
contents
Foreword by Brad DeLong
Introduction: “Dream not of today, Mister Picard”
Chapter 1: “. . . Money went the way of the dinosaurs”
Chapter 2: “. . . Why is everyone so worried about holograms taking over the universe?”
Chapter 3: “Tea, Earl Grey, hot”
Chapter 4: “. . . Only a fool would stand in the way of progress”
Chapter 5: “. . . The thought that warp engines might be causing some kind of damage”
Chapter 6: “. . . That future, that space station, all those people—they exist . . .”
Chapter 7: “There are still many human emotions I do not comprehend . . .”
Chapter 8: “Never be afraid to mislabel a product”
Chapter 9: “I live in the hope that you may one day see the universe for what it truly is . . .”
Conclusion: “Live Long, and Prosper”
Acknowledgments
