Dune (novel) is an all-time masterpiece of science fiction and it contains more economic insight than any academic course in Keynesian economics one could take.
One of the most prominent economic concepts explored in the novel is the interplay between scarcity, value, and utility.
In the harsh desert environment of Arrakis, water scarcity is a central concern for its inhabitants. For the Fremen, Water holds immense value as a precious resource essential for survival in the arid landscape. The Fremen's intricate water conservation practices, such as the use of stillsuits to recycle bodily fluids, highlight the importance of resource management in the face of scarcity:
water holds a higher marginal utility compared to spice (Melange), as spice is relatively abundant on Arrakis compared to water. On the contrary, for the Imperium, Melange is the most crucial resource in the universe as it enables interplanetary trade and, from their perspective, it is very, very scarce.
Furthermore, the concept of trade and commerce is evident in the dealings of the Spacing Guild and the CHOAM corporation. The Guild's monopoly on space travel and the economic interests of CHOAM demonstrate the influence of trade networks and corporate interests on galactic economics.
Dune also delves into the psychology of economics, exploring themes of scarcity mentality, resource allocation, and rational choice. Characters like Paul Atreides navigate complex economic and political landscapes, making strategic decisions to safeguard their interests and achieve their goals: "He who can destroy a thing has the real control of it".
Dune is the story of an economic and ecological tragedy: an incredibly valuable and unique ecosystem that forms the basis of a ecologically friendly resource extraction industry that the galactic economy is based on, is destroyed by a bunch of technologically backwards eco terrorist natives who replaced that fragile ecosystem with yet another boring garden.
Like come on guys. Green, watery, planets are a dime a dozen. Couldn't you just settle for some greenhouses or something? Can't we learn to coexist with sandworms? Canada has learned to coexist with bears.
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crazy rumors nowadays around Dune... 😂😂😂
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I sense a guy who rooted for the polluters on Captain Planet.
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Rick and Morty's take on Captain Planet was awesome.
...and yes, as a kid I didn't buy into Captain Planet. We need miners and loggers.
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Second your support of miners and loggers
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I was considering re-reading dune. I might just do that and try to think of the economics more along the way.
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It's been a while since I read Dune. Why don't they trade spice for water? That's the obvious expectation from comparative advantage analysis.
I'm sure it's explained, since the book is so incredibly detailed in its world building.
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Why don't they trade spice for water?
This isn't real, but should be—
[Tolkien explains why the Fellowship didn't fly the Eagles to Mordor]
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Great post & I love the concept.
What's our stillsuit for sats?
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Thanks for posting this as I’m rewatching part one now.
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