Power and Progress

Power and Progress (2023) examines how technological advancements have shaped economic outcomes over the past millennium, often benefiting elites while leaving many behind. It argues that the distribution of power determines whether innovation leads to shared prosperity or deepening inequality. By analyzing both historical and modern examples, it highlights the need for deliberate choices to ensure technology serves the broader public good.

• History buffs interested in economic power
• Critical policymakers focused on technology’s social impact
• Anyone seeking insight into inequality

Daron Acemoglu is an Institute Professor of Economics at MIT, known for his influential work on political economy, development, and institutions. He is the co-author of the bestsellers Why Nations Fail and The Narrow Corridor, and received the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 2024.

Simon Johnson is a professor at MIT’s Sloan School of Management and a former Chief Economist at the International Monetary Fund. He is best known for 13 Bankers, a critical look at the financial crisis, and shared the 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics for research on institutional impact on development.