When you think about it, Superman doesn't need the rest of the Justice League.
In conventional wisdom, every member of the Justice League has a particular strength. Green Lantern can handle weird and alien threats. Aquaman can talk to fish. The Flash can handle armies of lightly armed minions in a heartbeat. Wonder Woman usually takes point on mystical threats. And Batman is the World's Greatest Detective.
If we consider each of those types of crime-fighting an output, we see that each member of the Justice League is a uniquely skilled producer of that output. Sure, Batman can beat up henchmen almost as well as the Flash can. But Flash can do it better. If Batman specializes in detective work, and Flash specializes in henchman-stomping, the two of them produce more Justice on net than if one tried to do both.
But what if we bring Superman into the equation?
Superman's slower than Flash (only just), but his super-strength and invulnerability make him better at dispatching minions. He's more capable of dealing with aliens than Green Lantern. And with his X-ray vision and super-hearing, you could make the case that he's a better detective than Batman.
So why does Superman need the rest of the Justice League?
For that, we turn the pages back to 1817 and the principle of comparative advantage, as publicized (though not first documented) by economist David Ricardo. Comparative advantage dictates that, even if one agent can produce two types of goods more efficiently than another agent, it benefits both parties for the efficient agent to specialize and trade for the other.
Ricardo gave the mundane example of a trade between England and Portugal in wine and cloth. Portugal could produce both wine and cloth more cheaply than England could. However, Portugal would benefit more from producing wine and trading with England for cloth, rather than trying at autarky.
Scenario One: Countries Refuse to Trade | ||
| Units of Wine Produced per Year | Units of Cloth Produced per Year |
England | 80 | 100 |
Portugal | 140 | 160 |
Total | 220 | 260 |
Scenario Two: Portugal Produces Wine, Trades with England for Cloth | ||
| Units of Wine Produced per Year | Units of Cloth Produced per Year |
England | - | 200 |
Portugal | 300 | 80 |
Total | 300 | 280 |
In fact, both Portugal and England would benefit more – the “global” production of both wine and cloth increase.
Bringing it back to comics, let's say tomorrow, the Justice League wakes up to two threats on their table:
1) A number of spatial anomalies have cropped up in Earth's orbit; and
2) A number of Sun-Eaters are approaching Earth.
And let's say everyone is out on vacation except Superman and Green Lantern.
It takes Green Lantern 8 hours to dispatch a Sun-Eater and 6 hours to close a spatial anomaly. It takes Superman 4 hours to do either.
Scenario One: Superheroes Refuse to Trade | ||
| Sun-Eaters Dispatched | Spatial Anomalies Closed |
Green Lantern | 2 | 1 |
Superman | 3 | 3 |
Total | 5 | 4 |
Scenario Two: Green Lantern Closes Spatial Anomalies and Superman Dispatches Sun-Eaters | ||
| Sun-Eaters Dispatched | Spatial Anomalies Closed |
Green Lantern | - | 4 |
Superman | 6 | - |
Total | 6 | 4 |
It's a slim margin, but the Justice League can dispatch one extra Sun-Eater by letting Superman specialize - even though Supes is objectively better than GL at handling both threats. And since letting even a single Sun-Eater through spells trouble for Earth (it does eat the Sun, after all), it’s a profitable decision.
So maybe Superman is better at everything the Justice League does than any given member. But that doesn't mean he can get by without them. He operates best as a floating agent, filling in where any team needs help and letting the specialists do the rest. This maximizes the output that the Justice League specializes in – Justice.
39 comments:
Can't you see how your heartless capitalism is taking jobs from hard-working Kryptonians, a minority if there ever was one?!
Great demonstration of comparative advantage and why Superman shouldn't necessarily go it alone. I wonder how much more popular introductory econ classes would be if more super heroes were involved.
The initial premise is flawed about many things, but let's just take its concept of detective work, since that's something where we have real world examples. Detectives in the police force work in pairs or even in whole teams, not because they don't have x-ray vision or super-speed, but because they have differing perspectives which help them collaborate. Hell, economics papers are rarely written by a single person.
You forgot to mention the most important comparative advantage: the rest of the Justice League isn't vulnerable to Kryptonite...
@jamused: Even the Man of Steel is vulnerable to Schumpeterian creative destruction.
I don't know if I mentioned this in a previous post but this blog is the best thing ever.
I hate bringing Krugman into this because I loathe Krugman, but as he rightly pointed out, in modern economies countries will produce the same type of good and trade betwixt themselves because of slight variations in product and consumers' desire for variety.
So if we assume the consumer for Justice League Justice is extra-dimensional observers (comic book readers), we would have a model that would correspond with actual results - sometimes Batman would dispatch henchmen not because he can do so more efficiently than the Flash but because the market likes variety.
On a side note, Superman isn't as good as everyone at everything. Martian Manhunter has a larger number of powers (Superman's powers + telepathy + shapeshifting + etc), and Superman has no ability with and no defense against magic.
While I enjoyed this overall, it fails to take into consideration advantages and disadvantages of differences in perspective, background, and general knowledge.
For example, the comic books of late have repeatedly established that The Batman makes a better detective than Superman in part because he understands human darkness and the criminal mindset to a degree Kal-El really never will. In a fight to the death against a mindless monstrosity, Wonder Woman has the advantage over Superman due to her willingness to commit fully to killing the monster, whereas Kal-El really hates killing anything (an ideal attitude in someone with his power level!).
I realize that, for the sake of simplicity, you ignored resource factors such as Green Lantern's ability to call in an entire cosmic police force if need be (something Supes can't do) or the fact that Superman will be trusted by public, press, and president to a degree no other hero can match.
I absolutely agree, anybody can said that Superman doesn't need the rest of The Justice League, because everyone have different abilities.
Zune and iPod: Most people compare the Zune to the Touch, but after seeing how slim and surprisingly small and light it is, I consider it to be a rather unique hybrid that combines qualities of both the Touch and the Nano. It's very colorful and lovely OLED screen is slightly smaller than the touch screen, but the player itself feels quite a bit smaller and lighter. It weighs about 2/3 as much, and is noticeably smaller in width and height, while being just a hair thicker.
Official Uugg outletGG Boots, Free Shipping! UGG Outlet Store Online, Genuine UGG Classic
Boots, Diugg outletsount UGGS On Sale!
I am thoroughly convinced in this said post. I am currently searching for ways in which I could enhance my knowledge in this said topic you have posted here. It does help me a lot knowing that you have shared this information here freely. I love the way the people here interact and shared their opinions too. I would love to track your future posts pertaining to the said topic we are able to read.
Hi, Nice idea,good things, There are many people searching about that,now they will find enough sources by your post.
Excellently written article, if only all blogger offered the same level of content as you, the internet would be a much better place. Please keep it up!
Hey cool weblog, just questioning what anti-spam software program you employ for feedback as a result of i get heaps on my blog. Anyway, in my language, there usually are not a lot good source like this.
Hey cool weblog, just wondering what anti-spam software you use for comments because i get lots on my blog. Anyway, in my language, there should not much good supply like this.
Fantastic publish! This might aid a lot of people find out about this matter. Do you want to incorporate video clips along with these? It could undoubtedly assist out. Your reason was spot on and owing to you; I probably will not have to describe every little thing to my pals. I can merely direct them here. Anyway, in my language, there will not be much good supply like this.
Hey, Really great work,I would like to join your blog anyway so please continue sharing with us,
I wonder how much more popular introductory econ classes , I want to join it .
Really great post, Thank you for sharing This knowledge.Excellently written article, if only all bloggers offered the same level of content as you, the internet would be a much better place. Please keep it up!
hello, i think that this post is the best that i have read.
I love the highbrow commentary on ostensibly ordinary topics like this.
hello, i would like to read more information about this topic.
Això és realment interessant, ets un blogger molt hàbil. M'he unit a la seva alimentació i esperem que busquen més del seu missatge meravellós. A més, he compartit el seu lloc en els meus xarxes socials !
Nice post! Thanks for sharing!
Great! Thanks for the share. It was very interesting and meaningful.
Angry birds flash| Angry birds flash| airbnb clone| airbnb clone|
I agree with the argument, and all I want to stay on it and discuss.
Sunglasses UK | Focus Online
Detectives in the police force work in pairs or even in whole teams, not because they don't have x-ray vision or super-speed, but because they have differing perspectives which help them collaborate. Hell, economics papers are rarely written by a single person.
Such a wonderful post. Thanks for the share.
Clone Script|Groupon Clone|
Wow, nice post,there are many person searching about that now they will find enough resources by your post.Thank you for sharing to us.Please one more post about that..
Thanks for the interesting resources. I really enjoyed.
Wow, nice post,there are many person searching about that now they will find enough resources by your post.Thank you for sharing to us.Please one more post about that..
Quite useful information, much thanks for this post.
It can't really have success, I consider like this.
I have wanted to learn more about particular topics, but not many websites would help me out in informing me the way I expected. This left me with many question, but after reading your article, I got an answer to all my questions. You are too cool dude!!!
hello, i would like to read more about this interesting topic beacuase
it is really interesting.
I have no words to express how useful your blog was to me in completing my job work successful. Thanks a lot.
Very significant article for us ,I think the representation of this article is actually superb one. This is my first visit to your site
organic seo service|
They also come in handy if he ever needs two things done at the same time.
Post a Comment