The term Late-Stage Capitalism is so charged, you know it is dense when an article starts with that. It is so often used to point out the friction, the inequalities, the almost surreal complexities and contradictions we see in our modern global economy. While those observations are valid starting points for discussion, I find myself wondering if there's another way to look at this "late stage."
Could it be less about an endpoint, and more about a new way of doing things? Perhaps a harder way?
Think about challenging video games. "Hard Mode" doesn't necessarily mean the game is broken; it means success requires more skill, better strategy, managing more variables simultaneously, and perhaps adhering to stricter rules for a more rewarding win. Could our current economic stage be similar?
Recognizing the erosion of trust often discussed in relation to LSC, we see building a robust, we need some sort of trust architecture as essential infrastructure for playing on "Hard Mode." Earning trust, not signaling it.
What if "Late-Stage Capitalism" isn't solely defined by its potential pitfalls but its potential? What if this stage represents a potential for evolution?
Perhaps the "true" nature of this stage isn't just decay, but the emergence of systems capable of – and perhaps required to – operate with greater integration, handle blended value objectives, internalize externalities (like social trust or creative sustainability), and leverage complexity with conscious intent.
Maybe practicing capitalism on a higher standard isn't just about difficulty; it's about the potential for more skillful, intentional, and ultimately more impactful ways of organizing resources and creating value.
By framing it this way – as a challenging level that demands better play, rather than an inevitably declining system – feels more accurate to the experience and more aligned with the potential we see.
It suggests that within the complexities of our current economic stage lie the seeds for more sophisticated, resilient, and perhaps even more responsible ways of building the future.
It’s a difficult path, but for ventures aiming for truly integrated, sustainable impact, it might be the only path worth pursuing... the inequalities, the almost surreal complexities and contradictions we see in our modern global economy is at least asking for something new.
While criticisms are valid starting points for discussion, I find myself wondering if there's another way to look at this "late stage."
Could it be less about an endpoint, and more about a new level of complexity?
What if we framed it as participating in capitalism on hard mode? Think about challenging video games. "Hard Mode" doesn't necessarily mean the game is broken; it means success requires more skill, better strategy, managing more variables simultaneously, and perhaps adhering to stricter rules for a more rewarding win. Could our current economic stage be similar?
It seems that within the complexities of our current economic stage lie the seeds for more sophisticated, resilient, and perhaps even more responsible ways of building the future. It’s a difficult path, but for ventures aiming for truly integrated, sustainable impact, it might be the only path worth pursuing.