The Intelligence from The Economist Living larger: Google’s challenges
Jul 31, 2020
Ludwig Sigler, U.S. technology editor for The Economist, and Ryan Avent, economist and columnist, discuss Google's massive growth and the accompanying privacy challenges it faces amid increasing scrutiny. They dive into the historical connections between economic success and hygiene, exploring how urbanization has evolved alongside public health crises. Additionally, they highlight Dubai's creative efforts to attract tourists despite its extreme summer heat, showcasing innovative strategies that could reshape its tourism industry.
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Google's Success Factors
- Google's success stemmed from a superior search product, a lucrative ad model, and a bottom-up, innovative culture.
- This allowed for experimentation and diverse services like Android, YouTube, and moonshot ventures.
Google's Future
- Despite building impressive new headquarters, Google isn't necessarily facing decline like other companies with 'edifice complexes'.
- However, the changing environment makes core business growth harder, requiring new avenues.
Google's Cultural Problems
- Google’s growth brought cultural clashes, particularly around gender and harassment issues.
- A 20,000-person walkout highlighted these issues after the company paid off accused harassers.