Why is a "Culture of Growth" so rare? feat. Joel Mokyr

The Clip dives into an in-depth conversation about the percentage of population that drives growth and development in a society, often termed as 'the intellectual lead.' The presence of these people across societies, the factors that may prevent them from contributing, and influences from education and political systems are key focus areas in the discussion. The role of culture, including its capacity for change and the significance of pluralism are also examined. Full Episode Link (Part 1): https://youtu.be/iV21apDujg8 (Part 2): https://youtu.be/j-EtfjGJbV0 00:00 Introduction: The Power of a Small Number 00:30 The Role of Education and Society in Nurturing Creativity 01:14 The Barriers to Unleashing Creative Potential 01:40 The Struggle for Intellectual Freedom in Different Societies 02:46 The Importance of Pluralism and Challenging Established Knowledge 03:32 The European Enlightenment and the Desanctification of Past Knowledge 04:53 The Difficulty of Overcoming Established Knowledge Systems 06:07 The Act of Rebellion in Knowledge Creation In this two-part episode of The Great Tech Game podcast, host Anirudh Suri is joined by Joel Mokyr to dig deep into why some societies get rich, creative and successful while others don't. Mokyr and Suri discuss examples of countries that have unshackled themselves from their past, such as 19th century Japan during the Meiji Restoration and the East Asian tigers. They also explore how India can reverse its brain drain and become a tech nation, and not remain just a talent nation. Mokyr highlights the high levels of inequality being driven by the tech economy today, and both draw parallels with pre-WWI Europe and its experience with vast inequality driven by industrial capitalism. Jumping to the modern era, they discuss whether AI represents a new revolution in knowledge, or whether it is just hype. About Joel Mokyr: Joel Mokyr is Professor of Economics and History at Northwestern University. Joel Mokyr conducts research on the economic history of Europe, and specializes in the period 1750-1914. His current research is focused on the understanding of the economic and intellectual roots of technological progress and the growth of useful knowledge in European societies, as well as the impact that industrialization and economic progress have had on economic welfare.