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
- BlackRock says it wants to do more for the climate
- The new US-China trade deal marks an uneasy truce
- Economists explore the consequences of steering technological progress
From the January 18th 2020 edition
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Germany’s economy goes from bad to worse
Things may look brighter next year, but the relief will be short-lived
An economics Nobel for work on why nations succeed and fail
Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson and James Robinson tackled the most important question of all
Why investors should still avoid Chinese stocks
The debate about “uninvestibility” obscures something important
China’s property crisis claims more victims: companies
Unsold homes are contributing to a balance-sheet recession
Europe’s green trade restrictions are infuriating poor countries
Only the poorest can expect help to cushion the blow
How America learned to love tariffs
Protectionism hasn’t been this respectable for decades