For this discussion, watch the following videos:
1. Erik Brynjolgsson (2013) The key to growth, race with the machines available at: http://new.ted.com/talks/erik_brynjolfsson_the_key_to_growth_race_em_with_em_the_machines
2. Robert Gordon (Feb, 2013): The Death of Innovation, the End of Growth.http://new.ted.com/talks/robert_gordon_the_death_of_innovation_the_end_of_growth
And read the following articles:
1. Durham, M (2014), Forty years from now: http://www.theguardian.com/smarter-cities/forty-years-from-now
2. Newman, R. (2012). Ten businesses that will boom in 2020.http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2012/09/10/10-businesses-that-will-boom-in-2020
3. Boston.com (n.d.) Thirty fastest- growing jobs by 2020. Available at: http://www.boston.com/jobs/2013/12/30/top-fastest-growing-jobs/TFcyHJvsq47aqcdQb8K18J/story.html
4. Boston.com (n.d.). Thirty of the fastest declining occupations. Available at:http://www.boston.com/jobs/2013/12/30/the-fastest-declining-occupations/PRZVnJg25iIBgJFyv70BxN/story.html
Discussion questions:
- What does Erik Brynjolfsson say about productivity and income? How does Brynjolfsson say that people can find gainful employment if they have to compete against technology? (1-2 sentences)
- What does Robert Gordon say about productivity and innovation? (1-2 sentences)
- Brynjolfsson and Gordon present contrasting viewpoints on productivity in the US, but both agree that worker incomes have fallen. Looking forward, do you side with Brynjolfsson's optimism or Gordon's pessimism about technology's impact on the worker and why? What do you think will happen to income and standard of living in the decades to come?