intensification paradox

A concept from Lean Logic:

The paradox by which a developing economy, whose productivity is improving, actually requires increasing quantities of labour (and the other factors of production, land and capital) to keep each individual supplied with food and shelter. Represented simply as the cost—in terms of labour, land and capital—of supporting the life of one person, the process of development is a process of declining efficiency. (source)

Further Reading

• Tech doesn’t make our lives easier. It makes them faster