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The cover of The Lever of Riches: Technological Creativity and Economic Progress

The Lever of Riches: Technological Creativity and Economic Progress

Joel Mokyr

Why have some societies grown rich while others have not, and how much did technological creativity matter?

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At a glance

Author
Joel Mokyr

Why read it

  • You will understand why technological progress is called a free lunch, more output without matching effort
  • You will see why learned Greeks and Romans invented little, while illiterate peasants in medieval Europe pushed technology forward
  • You will notice that the best predictor of a baby's future living standard is where he or she is born

Who it is for

  • An economics reader asking why some countries are rich
  • A history of technology fan curious about inventions across eras
  • A policy maker thinking about innovation and growth

Contents

  1. 1. Introduction, 3
  2. 2. Classical Antiquity,
  3. 3. The Middle Ages,
  4. 4. The Renaissance and Beyond: Technology 1500-1750,
  5. 5. The Years of Miracles: The Industrial Revolution, 1750-1830,
  6. 6. The Later Nineteenth Century: 1830-1914,
  7. 7. Understanding Technological Progress,
  8. 8. Classical and Medieval Technology,
  9. 9. China and Europe,
  10. 10. The Industrial Revolution: Britain and Europe,
  11. 11. Evolution and the Dynamics of Technological Change,
  12. 12. Epilogue,

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