May 12, 2010

Technological inertia


“Technological inertia in economic history” (1992)
Joel Mokyr

Sources of resistance to technological progress:
1.                  Protectionism: government attitudes; fear of job losses; resistance via non-market mechanisms.
2.                  Intellectuals: hinder progress due to social-moral reasons.
3.                  Good technology is put to bad uses: technological changes are related to other phenomena (e.g. nuclear weapons used in war).\
4.                  Philosophical resistance: manipulation of nature for human benefit is wrong.


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