Abstract
The scope of the topics which form the title of this chapter is extraordinarily ambitious. I hasten to say that I am not bold enough to have chosen this myself, but it does at least suggest the appropriate analytical framework within which I, as an economist, should treat this subject.1 That framework is provided by the classical theory of longterm economic growth or economic progress Unlike its neo-classical counterpart — the theory of steady-state growth — the range of variables in the classical theory is broad enough to encompass the diverse topics proposed, and its methods — those of political economy — are sufficiently flexible to handle the major issues which arise. Of course the adequacy of the treatment of the topic depends entirely upon the author, but at least he is not crippled from the start by the necessity of working within an analytical strait-jacket which compels him to disregard some of the more important variables simply because they are not easily or usefully quantifiable.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Notes and References
See J. A. Schumpeter, ‘The March into Socialism’, American Economic Review (May 1950).
A. Young, ‘Increasing Returns and Economic Progress’, Economic Journal (December 1928).
When the supply of labour is measured by hours offered through a working life, the reduction in the supply in the UK between 1870 and 1980 is almost 50 per cent. See Sir Bruce Williams, ‘Technology Policy and Employment’, Discussion Paper, The Technical Change Centre (London, 1983 ).
O. Lange and F. M. Taylor, On the Economic Theory of Socialism ( Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1938 ).
F. A. Hayek (ed.), Collectivist Economic Planning ( London: G. Routledge & Sons, 1935 ).
W. Leontief (ed.), The Future of the World Economy ( New York: Oxford University Press, 1977 ).
See D. Simpson, The Political Economy of Growth (Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1983) chap. 3.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 1984 The British Association for the Advancement of Science
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Simpson, D. (1984). Technology, Communications, Economics and Progress. In: Boulding, K.E. (eds) The Economics of Human Betterment. British Association for the Advancement of Science. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-17538-3_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-17538-3_4
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-0-333-36376-8
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-17538-3
eBook Packages: Palgrave Social & Cultural Studies CollectionSocial Sciences (R0)