The Lever of Riches: Technological Creativity and Economic Progress
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.14 (925 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 0195074777 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 368 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2016-05-07 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
But why are some nations more creative than others, and why do some highly innovative societies--such as ancient China, or Britain in the industrial revolution--pass into stagnation? Beginning with a fascinating, concise history of technological progress, Mokyr sets the background for his analysis by tracing the major inventions and innovations that have transformed society since ancient Greece and Rome. The Lever of Riches, with its keen analysis derived from a sweeping survey of creativity throughout history, offers telling insights into the question of how Western economies can maintain, and developing nations can unlock, their creative potential.. What emerges from this survey is often surprising: the classical world, for instance, was largely barren of new technology, the relatively backward society of medieval Europe bristled with inventions, and the period between the Reformation and the Industrial Revolution was one of slow and unspectacular progress in technology, despite the tumultuous developments associated with the Voyages of Discovery and the Scientific Revolution.What were the causes of technological
Rather dry and dull. I found this book made a fascinating subject really boring. I had a tough time finnishing it.In all fairness, I learned quite a few interesting things. One of them being that the Greek civilization was not so great after all. This civilization developed great intellect, but no technological innovators. Their technology relied on harnessing the energy of their slaves period. They had no incentive to innovate, that would have caused an idle and restless underclass prone to civil unrest.I am sure there must be another much more intere. Why were and are some societies so creative, while others are not? Why were and are some societies so much more creative than others? Joel Mokyr, well known economic historian, tackles this important question. In his view, technological creativity has two components: invention (individual breakthroughs) and innovation (social and economic factors that lead to widespread adoption and improvement of technology).He then takes the reader on a breathtaking journey through classical antiquity, the middle ages, the Renaissance, the Industrial Revolution and the late Nineteenth century. This section alone. "An Invaluable Frame of Reference" according to Robert Morris. According to Joel Mokyr, economic growth is the result of four distinct processes: Investment (increases in the capital stock), Commercial Expansion, Scale or Size Effects, and Increase in the Stock of Human Knowledge (which includes technological progress proper as well as changes in institutions). Throughout his brilliant book, he correlates technological creativity with economic progress throughout classical antiquity, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Industrial Revolution, and then into the later 19th century.In Chapter 12
The book is very well written, lively and engaging. Skaggs,Wichita State Univ."The history and the examples Mokyr uses are a delight to read."--Business Week"Joel Mokyr is a first-rate scholar who has read a wide body of literature. Lawrence Univ."An informative and well-written study of humankind's progress."--J.M. His book is a treasure trove of facts and insights about technological progress often overlooked in other accounts. Further, his argument that economics might do well to adopt the methodology of evolutionary biology instead of the standard application of Newtonian physics is cogent and convincing."--Howard Bodenhorn, St. of Wisconsin-LaCrosse"Mokyr has demonstrated, yet again, that he is one the best economic historians around. It is closely reasoned and well executed"--Nathan Rosenberg, Stanford University"Joel Mokyr likes telling his story and he tells it well; his boo
Joel Mokyr is Professor of Economics and History at Northwestern University, and is the author of Why Ireland Starved, The Economics of the Industrial Revolution, and other books in economic history.