Ghost GDP: Growth Without Prosperity? Through AI?

AI substitutes human labor faster than societies can adapt. This creates a "Ghost GDP": statistical growth without purchasing power circulation. This paper analyzes this structural break in the consumption cycle, connects it to the post-growth debate, and argues for a global machine tax to finance an Unconditional Basic Income.

Authors

Publication Details

Journal
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Published
2026-03-15
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19010430
Primary Topic
Socio-political and Technological Issues
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Ghost GDP: Growth Without Prosperity? Through AI?

Detlef Burkhardt
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Socio-political and Technological Issues
article

Ghost GDP: Growth Without Prosperity? Through AI?

Detlef Burkhardt
article en

Abstract

AI substitutes human labor faster than societies can adapt. This creates a "Ghost GDP": statistical growth without purchasing power circulation. This paper analyzes this structural break in the consumption cycle, connects it to the post-growth debate, and argues for a global machine tax to finance an Unconditional Basic Income.

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Decent work and economic growth
Openalex Percentile: Top 28%
Socio-political and Technological Issues
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.

Ghost GDP: Growth Without Prosperity? Through AI? — Detlef Burkhardt · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS