Name: The death of innovation, the end of growth
Uploaded: 2013-04-23T14:59:38Z
Duration: 12 min
Description: The US economy has been expanding wildly for two centuries. Are we witnessing the end of growth? Economist Robert Gordon lays out 4 reasons US growth may be slowing, detailing factors like epidemic debt and growing inequality, which could move the US into a period of stasis we can't innovate our way out of. Be sure to watch the opposing viewpoint from Erik Brynjolfsson.

The US economy has been expanding wildly for two centuries. Are we witnessing the end of growth? Economist Robert Gordon lays out 4 reasons US growth may be slowing, detailing factors like epidemic debt and growing inequality, which could move the US into a period of stasis we can't innovate our way out of. Be sure to watch the opposing viewpoint from Erik Brynjolfsson.

The death of innovation, the end of growth

America’s explosive economic growth over the past century was powered by revolutionary inventions like electricity, cars, and running water. Today, powerful headwinds—aging demographics, education struggles, soaring debt, and rising inequality—are slowing progress, with recent per-person income growth turning negative. The leap from horse-drawn buggies to jet planes happened in just 60 years, yet expectations for future generations to double their standard of living now look uncertain. Matching the transformative impact of the past’s innovations is proving harder than ever.