Disruptive Inefficiency

Disruptive inefficiency is a useful way of thinking about the intervention of slow methods in production that are valued by consumers but that reduce overall levels of productivity in an industry.

In 2014 the Australian Productivity Commission noted that both artisanal bakery and small-vineyard wine production were having a negative impact on output in their relative sectors. link

There is evidently a tipping point in market tolerance for disruptive inefficiencies. Price signalling becomes critical in establishing a comfortable proportion of overall market share for artisanal products and practices that are seen to have ethical value (unlike, say, elite brand luxury items that are also relatively inefficient to produce).

Within the ecosystem of social, collaborative and educational products which have recently been galvanized by innovations relating to speed and scalability: what is the market tolerance for a slower and more mudbrick kind of online experience?

And what is the scale of community that this experience can most effectively sustain?

Related