3min snip

"Upstream" with Erik Torenberg cover image

E81: Status, Sacred, and Neglected Truths with Robin Hanson

"Upstream" with Erik Torenberg

NOTE

Innovation's Decline Meets Insular Growth

The ongoing decline in fertility rates is identified as a persistent trend with significant long-term implications for population dynamics and economic activity. As fertility continues to fall, it leads to a peaking and eventual decline in population. This population decrease correlates with a notable halt in innovation, driven by the shrinking base of active participants in the economy. The analysis indicates that innovation is closely linked to current activity levels in relation to historical activity, and during periods of population decline, the rate of innovation diminishes significantly. The possibility of reversing fertility decline may primarily hinge on the practices of insular cultures, such as the Amish or Orthodox Jews, who exhibit resistance to broader societal innovations. These subcultures could thrive in a low-innovation context but risk becoming out of touch with faster-paced innovation when the opportunity arises again, highlighting a complex interplay between cultural insularity and the sustainable advancement of innovation.

00:00

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode