Economists explore the consequences of steering technological progress
Global warming and AI raise questions about how to manage innovation
![](https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/sites/default/files/images/print-edition/20200118_FND000_0.jpg)
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
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