Economists explore the consequences of steering technological progress
Global warming and AI raise questions about how to manage innovation
SINCE THE ancient Greeks, at least, people have recognised that civilisational progress tends to create havoc as well as opportunity. Economists have had little time for such concerns. To them, technological progress is the wellspring of long-run growth, and the only interesting question is how best to coax more innovation out of the system. But in the face of looming social challenges, from climate change to inequality, some are now asking whether, when it comes to innovation, what sort is as relevant as how much.
This article appeared in the Finance & economics section of the print edition under the headline “Prometheus undirected”
Finance & economics January 18th 2020
- Emerging economies are experiencing a prolonged productivity slowdown
- What the semiconductor industry tells us about the world economy
- Oil markets shrug off tension in the Middle East
- The new US-China trade deal marks an uneasy truce
- BlackRock says it wants to do more for the climate
- Economists explore the consequences of steering technological progress
From the January 18th 2020 edition
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