Disruptive 3D Technology Considered

The other day our think tank was discussing the challenges of 3-D printing and how "Capitalism will begin to suffer damage when 3D printing starts to affect the retail distribution chain." Consider in the event that you will that in the foreseeable future people will undoubtedly be 3D printing in the home using carbon composite layering graphene, metallic materials, plastics, ceramic materials, etc. - people won't need to go to a shop to get cheap products, they can merely print them within their living room. What about the jobs at the major retailers, think about the management in retail, the buyers, truck drivers, warehouse staff? Those jobs gone?

When does this happen - as 3D printing technology matures. How fast will that happen - as fast since it takes for people to print out the brand new evolutions of these 3D printers in the home. In other words, the technology will outpace the ability of the markets to react. Capitalism is great at eliminating losers. The thing is that retail will be a loser almost overnight (10-15 years). Enjoy watching the few remaining Macy's Thanksgiving Day parades.

One think tanker who leans left-politically suggested that "We must prepare government to part of and soften the coming economic shocks. People who have no hope of finding work will need food, shelter and healthcare."

Not fast, my capitalist brain screams - you see, yes, disruptive technology always threatens the incumbents in the market-place, but that's okay, if the free-market is working right, everything re-adjusts. If we've crony capitalism subsidizing, or governments nationalizing to prop up dying industries that's when we have problems.

In socialism the leaders who use populist themes have to opt for mob rule to bail-out or subsidize such old tech against the onslaught of the brand new. In free-market capitalism you will have shocks to the system, however the system can realign on its own and continue forward. Printing Press, Cotton Gin, TV, Flights, cell phones, computers, etc. and yes, what comes next may also disrupt and if companies like Boeing have anything to state "It will fly like nothing else, and GE, DuPont, and other companies will buy up the innovators and ensure it is part of the home based business units to transport on.

Why bother propping up things such as video rental stores or one-hour photo developing franchises? I assume, I've more belief in free markets, mostly in hindsight. But it is only going to work if we leave our hands off of it. Price controls, minimum wage laws, subsidies, they all distort free markets, I worry more about this more than the next new thing on the bleeding age in age Singularity and the Internet of things. Think with this.

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative group of eBooks on Innovation in America. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the web Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net.