Fascinating discussion, much of it over my head since I am unfamiliar with the writings and ideas of this guy, Girard. But I do have something to say regarding the opportunity cost of having children in America today.
It all goes back to the revolution in major home appliances, as a result of which women could now enter the workforce since housekeeping was no longer a full-time occupation. At first this was a big plus. Couples that did it first got a boost in income and an increase in their overall standard of living. In those early days it was a purely voluntary move.
But then before long most married women started working for wages, after which it became necessary for most married women to continue doing so just to afford a house in a safe neighborhood with good public schools. It was two-income families competing for space. That's when the opportunity cost of having children went through the roof.
You will notice that it is a largely a real estate phenomenon (cf. Henry George) of living in major metropolitan areas, which is where most Americans live today because that is where the jobs are.
But imagine now what could happen if industry were to be geographically and managerially decentralized and the benefits of the new labor saving technologies in the home were to be shared equally between husbands and wives, not by increasing but by holding steady a married couple's total hours of employment outside the home. In other words, two part-time jobs to support a family instead of one (or two) full-time jobs. Were that to happen the opportunity costs of having children would plummet.
I have no idea how any of this relates to Girard, though I will say I see it as the apotheosis not only of capitalism itself as an economic system, but of the entire Judeo-Christian project out of which capitalism emerged. A sacred secularism so to speak. Post Christian but not post Hebraic.
... not only of capitalism itself as an economic system, but of the entire Judeo-Christian project out of which capitalism emerged. A sacred secularism so to speak. Post Christian but not post Hebraic.
Great show Brian! Really enjoying the exploration of Girard beyond recapitulating his basic ideas over and over.
Thanks :)
Fascinating discussion, much of it over my head since I am unfamiliar with the writings and ideas of this guy, Girard. But I do have something to say regarding the opportunity cost of having children in America today.
It all goes back to the revolution in major home appliances, as a result of which women could now enter the workforce since housekeeping was no longer a full-time occupation. At first this was a big plus. Couples that did it first got a boost in income and an increase in their overall standard of living. In those early days it was a purely voluntary move.
But then before long most married women started working for wages, after which it became necessary for most married women to continue doing so just to afford a house in a safe neighborhood with good public schools. It was two-income families competing for space. That's when the opportunity cost of having children went through the roof.
You will notice that it is a largely a real estate phenomenon (cf. Henry George) of living in major metropolitan areas, which is where most Americans live today because that is where the jobs are.
But imagine now what could happen if industry were to be geographically and managerially decentralized and the benefits of the new labor saving technologies in the home were to be shared equally between husbands and wives, not by increasing but by holding steady a married couple's total hours of employment outside the home. In other words, two part-time jobs to support a family instead of one (or two) full-time jobs. Were that to happen the opportunity costs of having children would plummet.
It that is a bit hazy, here is a concrete picture of what I am talking about: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U0C9HKW
I have no idea how any of this relates to Girard, though I will say I see it as the apotheosis not only of capitalism itself as an economic system, but of the entire Judeo-Christian project out of which capitalism emerged. A sacred secularism so to speak. Post Christian but not post Hebraic.
... not only of capitalism itself as an economic system, but of the entire Judeo-Christian project out of which capitalism emerged. A sacred secularism so to speak. Post Christian but not post Hebraic.