Max Weber's concept of the iron cage describes how modern society's rationalization and bureaucratization trap individuals in systems prioritizing efficiency, predictability, and control. Evidence of this can be seen in bureaucratic workplaces and government institutions, standardized education systems, and the pervasive influence of technology, none more frightening than the advent of AI that we are witnessing.
Alternate criticality suggest alternative ways of thinking and organizing that challenge these dominant systems, emphasizing decentralization, holistic approaches, participatory democracy, and sustainable practices. This is all closely linked to Critical Economic literacy, which involves understanding and challenging economic systems to address power imbalances and promote equity.
By fostering critical thinking, dialogue, and advocacy, we can equip students to participate in creating more just and sustainable economic systems.

• Robin Ford Coron

What would happen in the long term if the new generation of lying flat is working against the protestant ethics and testing out the current economic system?

• Tammy Cheng

@Cat Ho, I think we can reinvent the economy and introduce UBI.
I also wonder if we can actually get rid of the current concept of retirement? Can we reinvent the form of retirement as we have now? Do we all always have to build enough financial wealth to retire? @Kristina Pilgueva, pointed it out quite well that we are finding it hard to just dismantle our own iron cage! Will we be considered as irresponsible for adopting the lying flat lifestyle?
Perhaps there is something we can learn from Butan?

• Tammy Cheng

@Tammy Cheng,
Thank you for bringing this up! Yes, I always feel a sense of respect for the GenZers who opt out and refuse to play this game - to me, i see it as a way of resistance and a refusal to be held hostage in the iron cage.

Of course, I do think these individuals are probably individuals with means so they can afford to lie flat.

Do you think this could be one way to dismantle the iron cage? Do you think that with AI and automation, the numbers lying flat (refusing to be held in iron cage) will increase?

What about the role of UBI?
Can Economics as we know be re-invented?

• Cat Ho

Weber's theory of the iron cage is a useful model that can be effectively applied to the current situation with the economic growth being the main target of most of the governments. The sacrifices are not counted for achieving a certain amount of the GDP increase. I think most of us and me personally are also in the loop of making a sacrifice for the personal economic benefits. The obvious example may be the expectations of the higher salary and taking the promotion (and therefore more work) not because of the interest in job or contribution to the development of the school environment but merely for the pay increase. The increased economic income is paid therefore by using personal resources on the things that do not bring you happiness or promote non-materialistic values leading to the fast emotional burn out and mental health issues , threatening as the result in the worst case the whole well-being and existence of the human being. This way CEL brings in a new aspect to consider when rational decisions are made. It develops critical thinking in analysing the relevance of the targets set and the long term impact on the humans and society in general. What I liked about CEL, it brings other aspects of the well being in the centre of the attention contributing to the creating a holistic picture of the harmonious society.

• Kristina Pilgueva

@Kristina Pilgueva,
I really appreciated your honest thoughts about how even in our world of education, while we try to teach students about finding their sense of purpose, we ourselves are often trapped and make choices that can be detrimental to our well-being in other aspects.

Yes, CEL is a form of critical thinking - with additional lens to see reality that is possibly shaped by the pervasive Economics around us.

Weber was not optimistic that the iron cage can be dismantled, i wonder if you share his pessimism or feel otherwise?

• Cat Ho

@Robin Ford Coron,@Nina Wakefield,@Tammy Cheng,@Kristina, @Jo
Hi everyone, please use this update...as the 2 articles here are the relevant ones.

• Cat Ho