This thread reminded me of a joke my old econ prof told me. He was libertarian and so much of what he taught me I later found out was crap. BUT, the dude had a decent, self-deprecating sense of humor.
A physicist, a chemist, and an economist are stuck on a desert island when they come across an unopened can of beans. They all have a discussion on how to open it.
The physicist says “I believe I can calculate the precise height from which we could drop the can where the force would be just enough to weaken it. From there, I can build a sort of tourniquet from vines that will gently pop open the top.”
The chemist then says “That may work. But I’ve been observing the various chemical reactions going on in that cave over there. I believe I could gather just the right mix of chemicals in there that would dissolve the can lid enough for us to get the beans out. Yet none of these chemicals would be toxic to us.”
Finally, the economist chimes in “Okay… assume we have a can opener…”