Intelligence Squared The Journey of Humanity, with Oded Galor
Apr 15, 2022
Oded Galor, a Professor of Economics at Brown University and author of "The Journey of Humanity," discusses the optimistic narratives about wealth and inequality in human history. He reveals how significant historical shifts, like the industrial revolution, drastically changed living standards, albeit unevenly. Galor delves into the roots of global inequality, the interplay between cooperation and competition in human nature, and the critical role of education in fostering economic progress, urging tailored policies to address disparities.
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Breaking the Malthusian Model
- The Malthusian model, where population growth leads to resource depletion and decline, held true for a long time.
- Galor argues this model was broken by something that happened around 200 years ago.
Two Mysteries of Humanity
- Oded Galor's book addresses two mysteries: the mystery of growth and the mystery of inequality.
- It explores the sudden shift from stagnation to growth and the vast differences in wealth among nations.
Wheels of Change
- Technological progress, increasing population, and human adaptation interacted in a slow but reinforcing cycle.
- This led to faster technological advancements and eventually to the industrial revolution.
