From Zero to Steem: Introduction

in steemit •  8 years ago 

Introduction

Hey Steemit!   

In reading posts that explain how Steem works, I noticed a common trend where they all skip teaching any fundamental economic principles in favor of diving straight into defining the various components of the ecosystem. To me, this is like memorizing calculus operations before you learn basic arithmetic. You might know what an integral looks like, but you’ll probably have a hard time intelligently using one!

I think this relatively widespread lack of an understanding of Steem built on solid economics fundamentals is causing misinformation, making progress through thoughtful discussion difficult, and ultimately stopping us from uniting to effectively work together and move Steem/Steemit forwards.  

If you are interested in learning about Steem using this kind of approach, then please join me in this series, which I’m calling “From Zero to Steem”. We’ll start from zero prior assumed economics knowledge, learning about the most fundamental economics principles in easy, simple terms and work our way through macroeconomics, currencies, and monetary policies. When we finally get to learning about Steem, we will have the tools to reach a deep and intuitive understanding of the ecosystem. Steem is a complicated ecosystem, and I believe understanding it well takes time!

Series Outline

Below is the basic outline I’m planning on following for this series. This is where you, the community, come in. I need 3 things from you:   

  1. Please comment below with any topics you think I’m missing, as well as any general questions you have about Steem. I will either add them into the posts, or try to answer them in the comments below.  
  2. If you think I'm wrong on something, call me out! The best way to further our knowledge is through insightful discussion.
  3. This is my first attempt at writing anything serious. I would really appreciate pointers and comments along the way from those of you who know more about this than I do, and I'm open to collaborating on future projects. 

 Posts 1 & 2: Economics, Currencies, and Governments 

  •  Econ 101  
    • Economic actors and incentives 
    • Supply and Demand  
    • How markets work  
  •  Traditional Currencies
    • What is a fiat currency?  
    • What is inflation/deflation?  
    •  What factors affect a currency’s price? 
  • Traditional monetary policies and governments  
    •  How do governments create and spend money 
    •  How do different monetary policies affect currency prices?  
    •  What is the point of inflation?

Post 3: Steem 101 

  •  What are Steem, Steem Power, and Steem Backed Dollars?
    • How are they traded and created?
  • Why should the Steem ecosystem be viewed as a traditional currency and government rather than equity in a startup?
  • Where do contribution incentives come from?   
  • What does 100% annual inflation mean for Steem?  
  • What does the 2 year Steem Power vesting period mean for Steem?  
  • Who is incentivized to buy/sell Steem, SP, and SBD and what does that mean for their prices?  

Post4: Long term Steem

  • Applying what we’ve learned to think about the long term outlook 
  • What does the current path imply for Steem’s future? 
  • Why do people call Steem a “Ponzi Scheme” and are they right?  
  • What are some long term structural challenges Steem faces and what can be done to fix them?

Really looking forward to taking this journey together, and hopefully we can all learn something along the way!

P.S. For those curious, my background is in quantitative finance, meaning I work at the intersection of math, programming, and finance/economics. I think this gives me a relatively unique perspective on concepts at the intersection of all 3, like cryptocurrencies, which is what I hope to share through my posts.

- SeeDragons


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I like the idea, for economics 101 what system(s) will you be covering?

I think I'll largely talk about abstract markets for that part, and then use something people are familiar with as an example, like the market for apples. Then in currencies we'll be applying those concepts to a real market. Thoughts?

Sounds like a good idea! When will you begin posting?

Hoping to get the first one out in a couple of days!

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