Ponzi

You may not notice there is actually a fourth way that, at least for a good while, may appear to get around the problem.

It goes like this: The three solutions that I described yesterday were based on the critical assumption that the system is stable, or, in other words, the number of staff is constant.

But that’s not always true. Many a time, the system is expanding and new senior posts keep coming up, and the system would appear smooth and happy. There is no need for premature leaving of the system for either seniors or juniors, and there is no nominal seniors who are actually doing junior tasks.

Unfortunately, nothing can grow indefinitely, and a system that depends on expansion is not healthy. Once there is no new means of expansion, the system collapses.

In essence, it is another kind of Ponzi scheme.

PS. The fallacy of indefinite growth also applies to the economy - China and worldwide all the same.