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I can offer some economic perspective. Oftentimes the critical advance for technology to reach deployment is not a theoretical breakthrough in the primary scie

I can offer some economic perspective. Oftentimes the critical advance for technology to reach deployment is not a theoretical breakthrough in the primary science but rather a change in aggregate costs, ability to organize capital, secondary technologies, etc. It's stuff that pushes the tech past a threshold of feasibility. The Industrial Revolution itself, for example, was a mix of recent breakthroughs and older ones that started to be realized enmasse(e.g. coal mining and steam engines co-evolved during the 1700's). So when researchers say, "this supporting piece of the puzzle has gotten much easier," as it is with the new magnets described in the article, that's actually a good time to listen since it might be the tipping point. Theory developments or experimental observations are exciting stories to read about but often have less imminent bearing on whether you're going to see it impact your life.

alehul 9y ago
Could you recommend any resources (articles, books, podcasts, etc.) that go into more detail on the economic factors that come together to enable periods such as the Industrial Revolution, or really any period? I think economics offers a great perspective to subscribe to, but haven't found much opportunity to learn it. Most "economics" podcasts are really just business-focused and describe modern events with little insight into the economics behind it.
- brownbat 9y ago
  The best fast and fun one is "How We Got Here" by Kessler, I think it's free if you send an email. Draws a really clever line of related inventions from swords to microchips. Specific areas after that... "Brilliant" by Brox on the history of lighting. "Salt" by Kurlansky. "The Master Switch" by Wu on telecoms and broadcasting. "Ascent of Money" by Ferguson has some critics, but it's got some great historical anecdotes on the history of financial tools, like fractional reserves and insurance, weirdly captivating. Those are all economic history... If you really want a pop intro to econ principles, maybe Planet Money? Pretty much everyone should listen to Planet Money anyway, it's just great radio.
  - anadem 9y ago
    Here's Kessler's excellent How We Got Here (pdf): http://www.andykessler.com/andy_kessler/excerpts/How_We_Got_Here_Andy_Kessler.pdf http://www.andykessler.com/andy_kessler/excerpts/How_We_Got_...
  - dmix 9y ago
    I gave Planet Money a shot but found the two hosts nearly unbearable and the typical NPR heavy-handed production and jumpy editing distracting. They try so desperately to make the topics sound fun/accessible that it ends up sounding like a disingenuous forced comedic act rather than a natural, education conversation with the guests...I guess I'm not the target audience for this. But I love the book recommendations. I plan to read that Kessler book tonight.
- TheCowboy 9y ago
  I thought Douglass North's textbook on economic history was useful when I studied it in school, and he likely has a lot of other articles and books you can pick and choose from. He died in 2015 but was quite prolific and won the Nobel prize. I have the last book he co-authored on my shelf that I still need to read. I think he's most known for his work in the role of institutions (which I think helps elucidate the "economic factors that come together" part of your curiosity): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglass_North#Institutions https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglass_North#Institutions https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_institutional_economics https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_institutional_economics
- antgne 9y ago
  You might be interested in the book "The most Powerful Idea in the World" by William Rosen. It's common to point to technological advancements such as steam which gave way to the Industrial Revolution, that Britain had coal etc. And that's definitely important because steam powered factories which was a major change from household/hand/craft businesses. In truth there were many contributing factors. But why Britain? Why was this the place where all these inventions were being made? Some historians get very creative in additional reasons for how this era came to be. Rosen makes the really interesting claim that it was the idea of intellectual property that triggered all the inventing-- that man could own an idea and make money from it!

alehul 9y ago

Could you recommend any resources (articles, books, podcasts, etc.) that go into more detail on the economic factors that come together to enable periods such as the Industrial Revolution, or really any period? I think economics offers a great perspective to subscribe to, but haven't found much opportunity to learn it. Most "economics" podcasts are really just business-focused and describe modern events with little insight into the economics behind it.

brownbat 9y ago
The best fast and fun one is "How We Got Here" by Kessler, I think it's free if you send an email. Draws a really clever line of related inventions from swords to microchips. Specific areas after that... "Brilliant" by Brox on the history of lighting. "Salt" by Kurlansky. "The Master Switch" by Wu on telecoms and broadcasting. "Ascent of Money" by Ferguson has some critics, but it's got some great historical anecdotes on the history of financial tools, like fractional reserves and insurance, weirdly captivating. Those are all economic history... If you really want a pop intro to econ principles, maybe Planet Money? Pretty much everyone should listen to Planet Money anyway, it's just great radio.
- anadem 9y ago
  Here's Kessler's excellent How We Got Here (pdf): http://www.andykessler.com/andy_kessler/excerpts/How_We_Got_Here_Andy_Kessler.pdf http://www.andykessler.com/andy_kessler/excerpts/How_We_Got_...
- dmix 9y ago
  I gave Planet Money a shot but found the two hosts nearly unbearable and the typical NPR heavy-handed production and jumpy editing distracting. They try so desperately to make the topics sound fun/accessible that it ends up sounding like a disingenuous forced comedic act rather than a natural, education conversation with the guests...I guess I'm not the target audience for this. But I love the book recommendations. I plan to read that Kessler book tonight.
TheCowboy 9y ago
I thought Douglass North's textbook on economic history was useful when I studied it in school, and he likely has a lot of other articles and books you can pick and choose from. He died in 2015 but was quite prolific and won the Nobel prize. I have the last book he co-authored on my shelf that I still need to read. I think he's most known for his work in the role of institutions (which I think helps elucidate the "economic factors that come together" part of your curiosity): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglass_North#Institutions https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglass_North#Institutions https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_institutional_economics https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_institutional_economics
antgne 9y ago
You might be interested in the book "The most Powerful Idea in the World" by William Rosen. It's common to point to technological advancements such as steam which gave way to the Industrial Revolution, that Britain had coal etc. And that's definitely important because steam powered factories which was a major change from household/hand/craft businesses. In truth there were many contributing factors. But why Britain? Why was this the place where all these inventions were being made? Some historians get very creative in additional reasons for how this era came to be. Rosen makes the really interesting claim that it was the idea of intellectual property that triggered all the inventing-- that man could own an idea and make money from it!