Plain English with Derek Thompson The Biggest Inventions of the 2020s: Cancer Vaccines, Flying Cars, Space Travel, and More
Jan 7, 2022
Eli Dourado, an economist and tech expert, joins the conversation filled with optimism about the future of innovation. He discusses the resurgence of supersonic travel and flying cars, alongside game-changing advancements in satellite technology. Dourado highlights the transformative potential of mRNA beyond vaccines, including revolutionary cancer treatments. They explore how crises like COVID-19 can accelerate medical breakthroughs and touch on innovative solutions to combat climate change, emphasizing the promise of carbon capture technologies.
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Exiting the Great Stagnation
- We might be exiting the "great stagnation", a period of slowed progress.
- The next decade could see breakthroughs in many fields, from biotech to energy tech.
Measuring Progress with TFP
- Total Factor Productivity (TFP) measures efficiency growth and technological progress.
- TFP growth has slowed since the 1970s, indicating a potential stagnation in progress.
19th Century Innovation Boom
- The late 1800s saw a surge of inventions, from light bulbs to recorded music.
- Some economists argue this "low-hanging fruit" has been picked, limiting current progress.