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Are we living in the middle of an Industrial Revolution?

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Author Info
Joel Mokyr
Abstract

The concept of a new Industrial Revolution has recently become of great interest to general economists of all persuasions. For example, the New Growth Theory has placed renewed emphasis on the importance of technological change in modern economic growth, and a number of authors have suggested that we are entering a new period of technological advances that could profoundly affect the world economy. ; In an article based on comments at the Tenth District Monetary Policy Roundtable, Mr. Mokyr looks at the events of our time in relation to events of the British Industrial Revolution. He cautions that the temptation to look at the past to guide us in making predictions and policy recommendations should be resisted. Historical analogies often mislead as much as they instruct, and in technological progress, where change is unpredictable, cumulative, and irreversible, the analogies are more dangerous than anywhere.

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Article provided by Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City in its journal Economic Review.

Volume (Year): (1997)
Issue (Month): Q II ()
Pages: 31-43
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Handle: RePEc:fip:fedker:y:1997:i:qii:p:31-43:n:v.82no.2

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Keywords: Technology Economic history Economic conditions - United States

Cited by:
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  1. Robert J. Gordon, 2000. "Does the "New Economy" Measure Up to the Great Inventions of the Past?," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 14(4), pages 49-74, Fall. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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