X-Message-Number: 31866
From: "John de Rivaz" <>
Subject: #31864: Krugman Explains Why Progress Is Slowing Down
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 10:23:10 +0100

It is worthwhile clicking on the link
http://io9.com/5335000/krugman-explains-why-progress-is-slowing-down

and reading the comments thereafter. There is a lot of debate as to whether it 
is really true that progress has slowed. But if it has, here are a couple of 
possible reasons:


One thing no one has mentioned is that in the past when progress could have been
faster, there wasn't the "brain drain" of active minds into pure money making 
systems such as finance, law and compliance. (That is to say systems that gather
money but don't create real wealth in return, as do research and development, 
manufacture and construction. For example, people who get jobs counting light 
bulbs at $150/house are not creating proportionate wealth.)


Also. in electronics for example, it was possible to make something new from 
relatively few easily manipulated components. These days, new appliances require
a lot of planning and a "fabrication plant" to make the necessary ICs, the 
components of which are too small for humans to see and manipulate. Therefore 
most new products are made by committees,

-- 
Sincerely, John de Rivaz:  http://John.deRivaz.com for websites including
Cryonics Europe, Longevity Report, The Venturists, Porthtowan, Alec Harley
Reeves - inventor, Arthur Bowker - potter, de Rivaz genealogy,  Nomad .. and
more

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