Stagnation Problem

The Stagnation Problem asks what people do when survival no longer requires work. Without purpose, post-scarcity societies risk apathy, social decay, or nihilism–echoing Calhoun’s Universe 25 mice. Unscarcity responds with the Frontier’s infinite games and with Civic Standing paths that reward contribution beyond survival.

Examples in the book include Maria discovering art after a lifetime of labor and young scientists pursuing deep research because basic needs are covered. Multiple avenues for meaning–care, art, exploration, philosophy–are legitimized, avoiding a monoculture of competition or consumption.

The problem aligns with psychological research on self-determination and meaning in life; solutions hinge on autonomy, mastery, and purpose rather than enforced scarcity or surveillance.

References

• UnscarcityBook, chapter1
• Viktor Frankl, “Man’s Search for Meaning” (1946)
• Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985)