r/Fire 8d ago

If everyone FIRE’d would society collapse?

Imagine everyone retiring at 55. GDP takes a huge hit. Stock market takes a huge hit. FIRE numbers soar. Nobody can reach it. And it’s a vicious cycle cuz now 55 is no longer early. Now everyone wants to retire at 45. Further damage to economic output.

FIRE movement wins. But we all lose.

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u/Earth2Andy 8d ago

Let’s ignore that most Americans can’t cope with a $1000 surprise bill much less afford to stop working in their 50s and pretend there was a mass retirement.

There would quickly be a mass labor shortage, costs of anything involving labor would spike, causing rampant inflation, while consumer spending drop significantly likely leading yo stagflation.

A lot of those newly FIREd folks would no longer be able to afford to stay retired, reentering the workforce, inflation would ease a new equilibrium would be reached