Will we ever have a "cashless" society, like in Star Trek. In this panel (originally created for the official Star Trek convention) writer and technologist Joseph Dickerson discusses the possibility and how the economics of Trek works.

1. Joseph Dickerson
@josephdickerson

2. Background

3. “The Federation is a proto-post scarcity
society evolved from democratic capitalism.
It is, essentially, European socialist
capitalism vastly expanded to the point
where no one has to work unless they want
to.”
Rick Webb, The Economics of Star Trek
“But… but that’s
communism!”
No, it’s not.

4. Post-scarcity is an alternative form of
economics or social engineering in which
goods, services and information are
universally accessible. This would require a
sophisticated system of resource recycling,
in conjunction with technologically advanced
automated systems capable of converting
raw materials into finished goods.
Post scarcity
economy

5. Why have a huge
labor pool when
10% of the
population can do
the work required
for the rest?
Jobs are
optional

6. What is wealth when
everyone has a base
standard of living?
Wealth will be more
about experiences
than the acquisition of
things
There will be a
different idea of
“wealth”

7. Nothing will every be perfect…
Some things will still be rare
And the rarest of things will be… talent
Post scarcity isn’t an
all or nothing thing

8. Chateau Picard or Sisko’s restaurant
are not money-making endeavors -
they are creative pursuits
Talent,
Craftsmanship
and creativity
can’t be replicated

9. But what about the workers?
Maybe the people who serve the customers at
Sisko’s are doing it not to get paid but maybe
they do it to engage with different races and
cultures - or may be they do it to get to enjoy the
(hand-crafted) food themselves - like a barter
system

10. What about
Federation
credits and
gold-pressed
latinum?

11. Federation credits are just that - credits. It’s
a “currency” that allows its owners to get
Federation services in return
It could be replicator time, or computer
cycles, or even the use of a small ship
It’s used to have commerce with other
worlds and races who aren’t in the
Federation
You can also look at them as “energy units”
Federation Credits

12. It’s one of those non-Federation units of
currency
“As a Federation Citizen I can have gold-
pressed latinum, Federation Credits, Frangs,
Darseks, Isiks, Leks, or Quatloos in my
wallet. I can have a wallet. I can buy things
with Self Sealing Stem Bolts if I want. But
none of that is in conflict with the fact that the
Federation has no unit of currency and is
predominantly concerned with societal good
and self improvement.” - Webb
Gold-pressed Latinum

13. It’s happening… or at least being
discussed… now.
Can it actually
happen?

14. We may never get there… but I think we
can.
Conclusion

15. Thanks!
Joseph Dickerson
@josephdickerson