Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

I always assumed that drone delivery was just a publicity stunt (in urban areas anyway). I am hoping that it stays that way. I am really not convinced that a sky full of buzzing drones delivering people's toothpaste and takeaways is a great idea.


But it would probably makes economic sense. A big cost of delivery is the personal that actually does the delivery. It might not be viable for all packages but probably for the premium delivery that promises sub 1 hour delivery.


>But it would probably makes economic sense.

Only if you don't price in all the externalities: loss of delivery jobs, environmental cost of the drones, cost of drones hitting people, cars, buildings and powerlines etc.


Replacing jobs with better or lower cost alternatives is not an externality.

Like if you switch from a low quality butcher to a higher quality butcher, you are not imposing a cost on the lower quality butcher.

You can not like it as a consequence of course, whether it is an externality or not.


>Replacing jobs with better or lower cost alternatives is not an externality.

Replacing 3 delivery guys with 1 drone maintenance guy imposes a cost on society if those delivery guys can't then find work.


Fine, then we stop making heavy equipment and dig ditches with spoons.


I think this would actually make me buy less stuff. Like, I can see the neighbors think, oh look, wkjagt getting junk from Amazon AGAIN.


It'll be like living in a late-game Factorio base.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: