Rough but edited lecture transcript. Part of Econ 135: The History of Economic Growth Course Unit 5. After Neoliberalism Comes "Polycrisis": The economic aspects of our polycrisis…
Polycrises are historically civilization ending (or so my historian wife reminds me when I get too techno-optrimistic about the future). I don't expect our global civilization to collapse, but it does sufggest a major realignment of the world order, and not in a good way. What might be a good path is to take the idea of reducing inequality seriously, while also taking the majority views serious about healthcare, reproductive health, and most important, global heating and actaully doing something to achieve those goals. I would hate to think we need a dictator to do this, (and the one the country selected is 180 degrees out of step with the majority), but US democracy as currently structured seems unable to do the job. As Lessig has long stated, money in politics is a real underlying problem and needs to be eliminated, rather than, as now, liberated to do as much damage as it demonstrably does.
Is it really clear that the era of neoliberalism is over? Yes, there are higher tariffs and an attempt to bring manufacturing back from overseas. But so far this seems more like a difference in degree than anything new. Neoliberalism may turn out to be like "late capitalism," the idea that capitalism is on its last legs. Note that this idea is over 100 year old. And yet capitalism is still around.
Yes. First it was "commercial capitalism" ca. 1700. Then it was "industrial capitalism" ca. 1860. Then, by 1890, it was "late capitalism". By 1920 it was "later capitalism". By 1950 it was "still later capitalism". There was a movement that tried to change in to "Fordism" around 1980, but that failed: By 1980 it was "still later capitalism than still later capitalism". By 2020 it was "the latest stage of capitalism that followed the later capitalism that followed the later capitalism that followed late capitalism"... -B.
In general conversation, I refer to the "tyranny of computer workers."
In some areas, this may be coming to an end. Web workers and designers are becoming less important when the companies who employ them are abandoning the upkeep of their web sites. I see more and more websites that are not kept current, they can't afford it any more, and computer workers can not keep their websites secure except at great cost.
How many more updates to programs like Microsoft Word and Excel do we need?
Then I think about my recent trip to the pharmacy to pick up my prescriptions, the pharmacist was totally engaged with something very important on their computer. I had to wait 10-15 minutes to get waited on by someone else. It made me feel like smashing that computer to bits.
The total cell phone addiction started up in fall of 2015. I had just returned from the hospital, we had a restaurant meal, and suddenly the women were all wearing tights and totally engrossed with their cell phones. Men, not as much attention to their cell phones as women, but they probably do it secretly.
I see what you mean about financial detachment. I have no idea where I get my interest money from in my money market fund. I do know what my retirement fund is invested in, so there is personal connection. Their is some personal connection by wondering how the foreign workers who made my clothing are doing.
Polycrises are historically civilization ending (or so my historian wife reminds me when I get too techno-optrimistic about the future). I don't expect our global civilization to collapse, but it does sufggest a major realignment of the world order, and not in a good way. What might be a good path is to take the idea of reducing inequality seriously, while also taking the majority views serious about healthcare, reproductive health, and most important, global heating and actaully doing something to achieve those goals. I would hate to think we need a dictator to do this, (and the one the country selected is 180 degrees out of step with the majority), but US democracy as currently structured seems unable to do the job. As Lessig has long stated, money in politics is a real underlying problem and needs to be eliminated, rather than, as now, liberated to do as much damage as it demonstrably does.
Is it really clear that the era of neoliberalism is over? Yes, there are higher tariffs and an attempt to bring manufacturing back from overseas. But so far this seems more like a difference in degree than anything new. Neoliberalism may turn out to be like "late capitalism," the idea that capitalism is on its last legs. Note that this idea is over 100 year old. And yet capitalism is still around.
Yes. First it was "commercial capitalism" ca. 1700. Then it was "industrial capitalism" ca. 1860. Then, by 1890, it was "late capitalism". By 1920 it was "later capitalism". By 1950 it was "still later capitalism". There was a movement that tried to change in to "Fordism" around 1980, but that failed: By 1980 it was "still later capitalism than still later capitalism". By 2020 it was "the latest stage of capitalism that followed the later capitalism that followed the later capitalism that followed late capitalism"... -B.
In general conversation, I refer to the "tyranny of computer workers."
In some areas, this may be coming to an end. Web workers and designers are becoming less important when the companies who employ them are abandoning the upkeep of their web sites. I see more and more websites that are not kept current, they can't afford it any more, and computer workers can not keep their websites secure except at great cost.
How many more updates to programs like Microsoft Word and Excel do we need?
Then I think about my recent trip to the pharmacy to pick up my prescriptions, the pharmacist was totally engaged with something very important on their computer. I had to wait 10-15 minutes to get waited on by someone else. It made me feel like smashing that computer to bits.
The total cell phone addiction started up in fall of 2015. I had just returned from the hospital, we had a restaurant meal, and suddenly the women were all wearing tights and totally engrossed with their cell phones. Men, not as much attention to their cell phones as women, but they probably do it secretly.
I see what you mean about financial detachment. I have no idea where I get my interest money from in my money market fund. I do know what my retirement fund is invested in, so there is personal connection. Their is some personal connection by wondering how the foreign workers who made my clothing are doing.