James Bennett, co-founder AMROC - The Quest For Unobtainium: New Perspectives On The Economics Of Colonization, And Their Implications For Space Settlement Strategies

James Bennett, co-founder AMROC - The Quest For Unobtainium: New Perspectives On The Economics Of Colonization, And Their Implications For Space Settlement Strategies

It is good to look at history for possible wisdom, but we have to be careful not to learn the wrong lessons.  James warns us that we have to be careful about "The Quest for Unobtainium" in looking for some high value items to ship back to the home.

Much of America was settled by settler economy, as opposed to plantation economy.  Especially after 1880.  Settlers were largely self-financed by the settlers themselves, using saved and borrowed capital.  About half the continent was settled in 60 years, after 1850.  These were mostly literate people.  Technology allowed survival with fewer specialized skills, and they needed less capital.

Home export was not the initial driver.  Production was not typically exported back home.  It would be consumed by the colony itself.  As they became more self-sustaining they would export to the new frontiers.

What lessons carry over?  Space settlement will not be an exact duplicate of the colonial experience.  Human motivations will be similar.  Many colonists will be motivated by transcendental goals, including practical freedom.  Colonists do not have to improve economic status, just human satisfaction.  Many colonists were escaping debt.  This pattern could follow today with the crushing student debt.

We'll need to resolve the ability to allow colonists have a secure title.  Need to have it available for collateral. Might need to scrape the Space Treaty.


The full agenda for Space Access 2013 agenda.