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Replicators: why do people still work?

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In the 24th century, the replicator technology is good enough to provide every Federation citizen with clothes, food and everything else. This is one reason why money ceased playing a(n important) role in the Federation. That would necessarily mean that there is no agriculture and no industry that manufactures goods. But in the first TNG episode we see a shop selling clothes. Picard's brother is a "peasant" and grows vine. Why do people still do that? And what are all the other people working? Is there an answer in novels, perhaps? -- AniWX 09:41, July 5, 2011 (UTC)

I don't think it means there is no agriculture or industry- it was said many times that some believe replicated food either does not taste as good (Picard said that about caviar) or that it is not as nutritious(O'Brien's mother as said in "The Wounded"). At least some Maquis thought the former according to Michael Eddington, who extolled the virtues of growing one's own food in "Blaze of Glory". Replicators can also stop working. So clearly people still grow food.--31dot 09:47, July 5, 2011 (UTC)
You might be interested in some fan articles written about the Federation economy, which (among other things) discuss the points you mention. See for example EAS or DITL (Navigate to the Money article).–Cleanse ( talk | contribs ) 11:16, July 5, 2011 (UTC)
There's a strong implication that it is Earth specifically that has a moneyless economy, not the entire Federation. Dialogue about the moneyless economy always seems to refer specifically to Earth or to Humans, while some members of the Federation clearly do use money. The Bank of Bolias for example would seem to be a major financial center in the Alpha Quadrant. One could surmise that member species retain their own unique cultural practices, including economic practices. In any case there's quite a lot that replicators can't replicate, from starships to cities, and even some base elements such as Latinum can't be replicated. Bat'leth 01:18, July 6, 2011 (UTC)

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