The History of Technological Anxiety and the Future of Economic Growth: Is This Time Different?

• Published in: The Journal of economic perspectives Vol. 29; no. 3; pp. 31 - 50
• Main Authors: Mokyr, Joel, Vickers, Chris, Ziebarth, Nicolas L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Nashville American Economic Association 01.07.2015
• Subjects: Anxiety; Debates; Economic growth; Economic theory; Economists; Employment; Great Depression; History; Income inequality; Industrial Revolution; Information technology; Innovations; Labor; Machinery; Political economy; Population growth; Productivity; Recreation; Sociology; Stagnation; Studies; Symposium: Automation and Labor Markets; Technological innovation; Technology; Technophobia; United States; Worry; United States > US

Technology is widely considered the main source of economic progress, but it has also generated cultural anxiety throughout history. The developed world is now suffering from another bout of such angst. Anxieties over technology can take on several forms, and we focus on three of the most prominent...