this post was submitted on 25 Sep 2023
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I do live in Tokyo and you do make good points.
I do not have any problem with automation and see it as absolutely essential (along with more open immigration) to Japan's future. I do not have any problem bussing my table in an establishment where that is the norm and has been for decades.
I do feel, however, that it is important for business owners to continue pay something for automation that replaces workers. This is hardly a new idea. Or a popular one. But it is what I believe is right.
I don't mind if they want to pay me for doing the job of a cashier (this would probably just be a small reduction to price similar to the reduction in price for transportation if you use an IC card or app and in contrast to how asking for a plastic bag results in a small addition to price) though I think the best way to handle this is for owners to pay fees to the government just as they would have if humans were doing the jobs. Just as I think those who own robotic assembly lines should.
What do you think about the argument that it keeps costs down when things are generally getting more expensive? In effect, you might actually still be benefiting from lower prices without ever knowing it.
I don't know that I always buy this, but I can see the logic of it and I think it may be true sometimes, especially if things are competitive enough that being able to keep your prices down is more beneficial to business than putting the savings straight into profits.
Otherwise I think probably rather than customers seeing direct benefits from lower prices, an attempt to capture more of the excess profits of automation with taxation is needed.
I'd really prefer the taxation method, but I don't think that's likely in most countries at the moment. Perhaps at a city level..?
While it certainly is possible that prices are lower than they would have been, I am skeptical. I know some business owners and have not heard this from them. I'd love some solid evidence to point to.