New Books in Science, Technology, and Society
Jeffrey Ding, "Technology and the Rise of Great Powers: How Diffusion Shapes Economic Competition" (Princeton UP, 2024)
Oct 5, 2024
Jeffrey Ding, an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Georgetown University, dives into how technological diffusion shapes economic competition among great powers. He critiques traditional innovation theories, focusing instead on how some nations excel at adopting new technologies. The conversation spans historical industrial revolutions, revealing how Britain, the U.S., and Japan navigated technological advances. Ding also discusses current U.S.-China dynamics in AI, emphasizing the role of skill formation and institutional adaptability in maintaining competitive edges.
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Quick takeaways
- Ding emphasizes that the diffusion of general purpose technologies across various sectors is crucial for a nation's economic competitive edge.
- The podcast highlights the importance of institutional adaptations and skill formation in leveraging technological advancements for long-term growth.
Deep dives
Understanding the Rise of Great Powers
The concept of the 'rise of great powers' is central to analyzing international relations, particularly in the context of technological competition between nations. This idea refers to the historical patterns of economic growth and power transitions among countries, particularly focusing on how one nation can surpass another in terms of economic dominance. The speaker examines the current geopolitical landscape, notably the competition between the U.S. and China, emphasizing the importance of sustaining long-term economic growth to emerge as a great power. The framework proposed in the discussion suggests that the ability of a country to leverage general purpose technologies (GPTs) is pivotal to this rise.
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