Hogwarts: From Selling White Peppers to Becoming a God

Chapter 377 World War?

The perfectly efficient market is a concept in economics.

This refers to a completely idealized market with an unlimited number of buyers and sellers, where individual market actions do not cause price changes. Simultaneously, products are homogeneous, preventing companies from forming monopolies and enjoying monopoly profits through product uniqueness. Furthermore, this is a market with fully flowing resources, completely open and complete information, and no information barriers.

"Of course not, but I will do my best to make it as easy as possible for people to access as much market information as possible at the lowest possible cost," Murphy said.

Patrick understood, "This is the extreme of a market economy, but it is also close to the extreme of a planned economy."

Whether it's a market or a planned economy, the ultimate goal is to achieve more effective regulation. The flaw of a market economy lies in the lack of transparency in market information; most people cannot overcome information barriers to see market trends, resulting in a waste of productivity.

However, the flaw of a planned economy lies in its inability to make timely and reasonable adjustments based on changes in market information.

In fact, even if the pioneers increased their computing power by a million times, they still could not completely and rationally regulate the entire market, because the market is composed of countless individuals. The complexity of human behavior makes it impossible to completely predict market changes, let alone regulate them rationally.

Unless a super sociological achievement similar to Asimov's "psychohistory" emerges in the future that can accurately predict the behavior of all human beings, this is an N-body problem, where N is greater than or equal to one hundred million.

So Murphy opted for a less-than-ideal approach, choosing to provide as much information as possible, lowering information barriers, and allowing the market to self-regulate based on the information available.

This can also be considered a decentralized computing without a central authority. In essence, it is no different from the ultimate form of OGAS. The only difference is that the plan is a forced allocation, while the market is an active choice. Obviously, everyone prefers the latter.

Everyone enjoys the feeling of freedom, and Murphy has no need to defy public opinion.

"But in terms of government and public sector management and control, the OGAS system is far superior to the existing bureaucratic system. It will basically advance by more than 90%. I will not lay off everyone, but I will basically not keep any powerful positions. I will retain some administrative staff."

"So, you can control that mastermind?" Patrick realized.

Murphy shrugged. "Of course, otherwise why would I become a slave to machines?"

Patrick nodded. If that was the case, he had no more doubts about this aspect. If it was really as the general outline stated, that the OGAS system could be combined with a team of experts to make optimal decisions on any public affairs in real time and implement them directly, there would be no problem with execution.

Then Murphy's decision is the most reasonable one.

In fact, the reason why so-called management agencies or bureaucratic agencies exist is that someone must do the management work.

Most bureaucrats and managers deal with people and implement policies and decisions. They face inherent resistance because the structure is composed of people.

The fundamental contradictions in the struggle between emperors and bureaucrats, and the conflicts of interest between shareholders and managers, are the same.

When rational decisions can be implemented without human intervention, the management organization immediately loses its fundamental purpose.

"Finally, regarding people's livelihoods and individuals," Murphy said, "I will go even further than the OGAS plan. In the future, all electronic devices, all sensor terminals, and all mechanical equipment in the Soviet Union will be connected to the national brain."

"Nothing in the nation, no person, will have any secrets or privacy before me. But at the same time, the secrets and privacy of any other person, organization, or individual will be protected to the greatest extent possible."

In the future that Murphy traveled to, capital had already achieved this through big data.

However, their power has not been used to better promote a fair and effective market. Instead, it has been used to build information barriers and to exploit others precisely by controlling information, desperately trying to seize more benefits.

This is yet another territory that will be occupied by the enemy if we don't take it over ourselves.

Murphy felt it was better to entrust the capital to himself than to other investors.

Patrick understood. "I never imagined you'd end up becoming an emperor... no, this is probably closer to being a god."

"One last question," Patrick said, "Are you planning to do the same in England?"

Murphy nodded. "That's right. The form will be different, but the underlying actions won't be much different. What do you think?"

Patrick thought for a moment, "Of course I support you. In today's world, people cannot achieve that ideal society through their own efforts. You may be the one who can force the world forward with absolute violence."

Murphy scoffed. "We haven't even used violence yet, and you're already saying that. What will you do when I do use violence? Won't I be seen as a demon king?"

Patrick smiled. "It's just a pity that I've only been prime minister for a short time, and now I'm about to step down."

"It's still early," Murphy said. "This plan can't be completed overnight. The transition period is very important. You'll be prime minister for a few more years. Oh, but you're preparing for a second constitutional amendment, right? Then it won't be prime minister anymore, it'll be president."

"We do have that plan," Patrick said, "but the resistance is too great, and it's difficult to succeed now. We need a catalyst."

"Like a world war?" Murphy laughed.

"Haha, you're joking. Even if I wanted to be Churchill, this is going to be too much..."

Patrick frowned and asked uncertainly, "Are you kidding me?"

Murphy's smile faded slightly. "Not entirely."

"What? This is no joke. The Soviet Union and the United States have enough nuclear weapons to destroy humanity hundreds of times over. If the Cold War turns into a hot war, it will be the end of the world!"

"Therefore, I also hope that we can resolve this peacefully," Murphy said.

Patrick frowned. "What exactly are you trying to solve? It doesn't sound like a trade blockade or a competition for magical research."

“We will be facing an enemy,” Murphy said. “I don’t yet know what the enemy looks like, how many there are, or how strong they are, but they will most likely be very formidable.”

"Before that, we need to unite and focus our efforts on preparation."

"However, the world is still in disarray, and we cannot win in this state."

Patrick's eyes widened. "You...you want to conquer the world?!"

"Don't talk about conquering, that sounds awful. Unification, that's unification," Murphy said.

"Are you serious?!" Patrick's head was buzzing.

"A little. It depends on whether they listen to you or not."

"But... a nuclear bomb..."

"Nuclear bombs are indeed powerful. But they have to be able to explode first," Murphy said. "Besides, nuclear bombs aren't necessarily the most terrifying weapons."

"Speaking of which, Umbrella Industries' military division has acquired quite a few good things recently. Shall we go take a look?"

"You mean, weapons?"

"Yes, weapons. Weapons that can conquer... cough, I mean, the kind that can unify the world."

(End of this chapter)