If tech companies reach their holy grail of what they want to do with self-driving, last-mile delivery jobs won't exist. And as I already said, yes, that's a big if. But it's something the tech companies are aiming to achieve. And besides that, I am highly doubtful that proactive public policy would enable last-mile delivery jobs to have higher wages and better working conditions. The public policy isn't there today, I'm not confident it would be there in the future. Most public policy trusts macro economic theory's invisible hand to naturally raise wages if there are truly more jobs than there are people. And if it's true, that's what will happen, then there's no need for proactive public policy. So... /shrug
All of this ignores Yang's other point that all of the roadside diners and other hospitality industry on the highways that depend on the trucking industry would be affected.
I'm not saying that the tech companies will achieve what they are aiming to do. Again, I'm a short-term self-driving skeptic. But I think it's dangerous to not have the conversation.