TUTTLE, CHARLES E. UNLIMITED SUPPLY ? In the February 24, 1964 issue of the U. S. News and World Report, Dr. Norbert Wiener of MIT, in an interview covering the impact of computers on the economy of the United States, says that "It is very easy now, with automation, to make a factory which can produce more than the whole market can consume." " Unfortunately, while Mr. Wiener's knowledge of comouters may be be- yond refutation, his economic theory appears to be lacking. The obvious and most glaring falicy of Mr. Wiener's statement is that in the long run supply must equal demand, a basic premise of economic theory. It can be assumed that he was referring to a very short run phenomenon in which supply at a given pegged selling price would exceed demand in that given, short run market place. With automation the supply curve would drastically change and would become more elastic in relation to demand. (see graph I ) This would result in an increase in output from OX to OX' with a corresponding decrease in price from OP down to OP'. This of course is assuming that the demand remains the same for the product. It is conceivable, however, that with increases in output on certain items that the demand curve might shift to the left reflecting less demand for the good; the opposite could also take place depending on the final product involved. Numerous examples could be cited. In addition to the foregoing which shows the economic principles of the theory lacking in his comments, there are many underlying supply components which are being assumed away: unlimited raw materials at a