AHC: Arcologies, Arcologies Everywhere

[Evermourn]

Originally Posted by Coalition

The key with arcologies, at least initially, would be to build them as a series of linked tall buildings. A factory might want to have its workers nearby, so it purchases an apartment complex near the factory...

The problem is that this only works if the factory can guarantee that it won't downsize, shift work offshore etc. Otherwise the investment just isn't worth it. The workers also have to be in a situation where they know they will be working at that factory for a very long time, otherwise many of them will want to live elsewhere, especially if one of the family members doesn't work at the factory.
If for some reason this factory - apartments - shopping centre complex was created, all it would take is the factory to have less work for a couple of years and the whole system breaks down. I agree with the other poster that this seems like more of a fit for Communist countries to try since the whole directed labor thing was more up their alley.

[RadioSilence]

You don't need it to be Communist per se, but maybe it's an important industry and the government makes a more or less permanent subsidy for it?

[Asnys]

Originally Posted by RadioSilence

You don't need it to be Communist per se, but maybe it's an important industry and the government makes a more or less permanent subsidy for it?

Fissile materials production? Or some other state-operated military industry? It would also help ensure the workers would stick to the company store.

[anw_rev]

Maybe for development of a new, integrated city?

[RadioSilence]

Originally Posted by Asnys

Fissile materials production? Or some other state-operated military industry? It would also help ensure the workers would stick to the company store.

Yeah, something like that. Have it happen in one of the more socialized nations, like Germany or France. Especially Germany.

[Evermourn]

I could maybe see this happening in Tokyo back in the 80s. Tons of money, sky-high land prices, super high work ethic and the perception of working for a company for life. Have a company try to integrate the worker and the office at one of their Tokyo HQs (less commute means more hours at work!). And put the schools in the building as well. That way the kids could go straight from cram school to their unpaid after-hours internships.

[Corbell Mark IV]

Originally Posted by Evermourn

I could maybe see this happening in Tokyo back in the 80s. Tons of money, sky-high land prices, super high work ethic and the perception of working for a company for life. Have a company try to integrate the worker and the office at one of their Tokyo HQs (less commute means more hours at work!). And put the schools in the building as well. That way the kids could go straight from cram school to their unpaid after-hours internships.

That's a good point. How much potentially productive time is lost in transit (in general and in Tokyo specifically)? I'm constantly amazed at how many people have hour plus commute times.

And again if you get a success story, then you can have imitators.