Walker Hanlon

Walker Hanlon, an Associate Professor in Economics at Northwestern University, dives into the fascinating world of the British Industrial Revolution. He explores whether necessity is indeed the mother of invention and discusses theories on directed technical change. Hanlon highlights the crucial role of engineers in this transformative era and examines how increased government intervention emerged from market failures. The conversation also touches on pollution's impact during the revolution and concludes with a playful dinner game featuring iconic inventors.