What is the Rationale for Incremental Growth?

Even though economic growth potential still exists, much of it is on terms which can be difficult to coordinate with others. People want to work, but may not be able to find affordable housing nearby. Or, the housing that is available, may also involve a long commute to gain work. Likewise, cities with sufficient work opportunities may have little interest in providing further housing.

Structural issues in housing also contribute to the "overheat versus deflation" financial scenario of mortgage access. Hence growth and aggregate output continue to be held back, because of the terms of engagement which have become necessary. If that were not enough, access in today's structural environment is not getting easier. For instance, consider a recent study which points out the correlation between good credit scores and trustworthiness in relationships. Arnold Kling notes a certain similarity, with what has occurred elsewhere:

I worry that this line of inquiry, like research on the role of IQ, will not be good for the career of a young researcher.

Why might such studies present problems for researchers? After all, studies on IQ and credit/trust relationships certainly deserve consideration. However, "danger" lies in the possibility they are used to reinforce norms for already broken structural underpinnings.

Instead of looking for ways to shore up the status quo, it would be better to create new patterns for economic engagement. A considerable gap already exists between the knowledge utilized by upper income levels, and what people rely on for more rudimentary forms of survival. In fact, what was once a middle ground of discourse between these groups, has diminished. Only consider how this gap has negatively affected political dialogue.

Here is where incremental growth patterns could eventually help to break up the stratification of knowledge use, between various income levels. For instance, time arbitrage would make it possible to harness - and compensate - knowledge based learning processes as they occur. People would be able to generate services based assistance, for others in their own midst. The investments involved, would be time compensated in an immediate sense, even though the process builds on earlier accumulation of skills patterns.

For lower income levels in particular, time arbitrage for educational purposes would be a viable option to low income public schools. Greater inclusion in knowledge use on the part of everyone in local community, could gradually improve public discourse. Likewise, incremental ownership of local building components would diminish credit needs - on the part of those who might flourish without credit in the first place. These options would mean a second chance for individuals to become (or remain) engaged in the responsibilities of family life.

Incremental growth and ownership would ensure that further class stratification need not continue. If only the supply side would see to it that real choices exist for incremental growth and ownership, there would be scarce need for false government "rescues" which mostly amount to further enrichment of government operations, instead of economic access for those who need it most.