Economic nihilism is then the ideology of the young, aspirant class, willing to put in two years—but only two years—at whatever firm is prestigious upon graduation. Economic nihilism is the ideology that celebrates taking shortcuts. The economy itself is abstracted away, what’s left is a salary or its equivalent in crypto payouts.

When laptop jobs join stable single-earner households and good customer service in the pantheon of distant, pleasant memories of the economic past, I doubt most will celebrate their newfound ability to think rather than work. After all, the educational system that gave rise to—and then punished—Cluely is the same educational system that teaches... See more

It’s not just that it’s difficult to get an elite job. It’s that the jobs themselves feel meaningless—and are meaningless. Humans are simple creatures, we like to be able to see, touch, feel our work. The code for one tiny portion of the Google Maps CarPlay interface or spreadsheets deciding whether to extend credit to failing Midwestern companies... See more