I've always found arguments about fixed-pie vs. variable interesting. Let's assume that each person has a limited potential value they can create. We'll all die at some point (unless the singularity is near) and we can boost our potential limit with things like technology, education, bio-tech, etc. But, in the end, each person has a limit to the value they can create. You could also argue that when people collaborate they can increase their potential yet again but there are limits.
If there are limits to the total potential a person can create then I would argue that fixing up a car in your yard is creating value but it is only the difference between what your true potential value contribution is and what you're actually doing (i.e. watching TV instead).
To me, it seems like the only way the pie gets bigger is through population growth or the multipliers I described earlier (tech, education). I would argue that although in the long term wealth is growing, in the short term it acts very much like a fixed-pie game. If the richest 1% are capturing wealth >= the rate of increase in the pie then those who aren't capturing it feel as though things are fixed and they are losing out.
If there are limits to the total potential a person can create then I would argue that fixing up a car in your yard is creating value but it is only the difference between what your true potential value contribution is and what you're actually doing (i.e. watching TV instead).
To me, it seems like the only way the pie gets bigger is through population growth or the multipliers I described earlier (tech, education). I would argue that although in the long term wealth is growing, in the short term it acts very much like a fixed-pie game. If the richest 1% are capturing wealth >= the rate of increase in the pie then those who aren't capturing it feel as though things are fixed and they are losing out.