In a recent episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks, Captain Carol Freeman remarks on the dismantling of a planet’s capitalist system:
“The Cerritos has arrived at Targalus IX, a recent addition to the Federation, to help dismantle their capitalist system of wealth. Having just acquired post-scarcity technology, the Targalans are removing their obsolete financial structures to make room for museums and meditation gardens.”
This portrayal suggests that one of the Federation’s achievements is guiding societies away from the so-called evils of capitalism into a utopian existence. But is this depiction accurate? More importantly, is it even desirable?
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At first glance, the episode presents a simplistic analysis of capitalism, implying that the acquisition of replicator technology — and the supposed elimination of scarcity — renders markets unnecessary. However, a closer examination of the Star Trek universe reveals that scarcity — and, by extension, capitalism — persists in various forms, even if not always involving traditional currency.
The Illusion of Infinite Resources
Replicator technology is often cited as the cornerstone of the Federation’s post-scarcity economy, capable of materializing virtually any object on demand. Yet not all resources in the Star Trek universe are infinitely available.
Dilithium crystals, essential for faster-than-light (FTL) travel, cannot be replicated. Their scarcity is a recurring plot point. For instance, in Star Trek: Discovery, we learn that around the mid-30th century, the supply of dilithium began to diminish, making it increasingly scarce. Later, due to complicated sci-fi shenanigans, a catastrophic event known as “The Burn” occurs, making dilithium exceedingly rare, crippling the Federation’s ability to traverse the galaxy.
Moreover, as Professor Ilya Somin pointed out in his 2016 Learn Liberty article, “Star Trek Is Far from Libertarian — Here’s Why,” replicators themselves are scarce commodities. There is no in-universe indication that replicators can produce other replicators, suggesting a limitation in their ability to self-propagate. This inherent scarcity necessitates resource allocation: the key building block of a market.
Private Property in the Federation
Despite the Federation’s portrayal as a society that has moved beyond money and personal wealth, private property appears to persist. Captain Jean-Luc Picard owns a family vineyard in France — a detail that raises questions about land ownership and economic structures within the Federation. If resources are abundant and replicators can produce wine indistinguishable from the real thing, why maintain a vineyard?
The answer lies in the value placed on authenticity and uniqueness — qualities that cannot be replicated. There is an implied market for non-replicated goods, where individuals seek out items perceived as superior to their replicated counterparts. For example, real Klingon bloodwine, Bajoran spring wine, or Earth delicacies may hold cultural or sentimental value that replication cannot duplicate. The desire for genuine articles indicates that not all needs and wants can be satisfied by technology alone. Scarcity, in terms of unique experiences or goods, still influences behavior and creates demand.
Reevaluating the Federation’s Economy
The writers’ attempts to envision a society that has moved beyond capitalism overlook the nuanced realities of scarcity and desire; the Star Trek universe subtly acknowledges that scarcity and market dynamics persist. This realization invites a more nuanced understanding of the Federation’s economy. Rather than representing a complete abandonment of capitalism, it may illustrate an evolution of economic systems, where technology alleviates many forms of material scarcity but cannot eliminate them.
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As Professor Somin also observed, while Star Trek’s technology creates an abundance far beyond our current capabilities, it might simply represent an advanced stage of economic development rather than a true post-scarcity society. Just as we look back on past eras of scarcity with curiosity, future societies may still grapple with their own forms of scarcity.
Ultimately, however, markets — in some form — will always play a role in allocating resources and fulfilling human desires that technology alone cannot satisfy.
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