Big Tech’s reaction to Capitol rioters reveals their unprecedented power – and threat to American democracy
4 minute read. By Jerry Davis, Professor of Management and Sociology at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan
Economic Growth and Technological Progress are slowing. Is that good? (Review)
6 minute read. Theo Curtis, government Economist (UK), reviews a provocative and timely book
Between Truth and Power: The Legal Constructions of Informational Capitalism (Review)
2 min read Review by Diane Coyle, Economist and Bennett Professor of Public Policy at the University of Cambridge
Technology Is NOT driving Inequality: An Explanation that Even Economists Can Understand
8 minute read "The ending of patent and copyright protections would unambiguously send demand for these highly-skilled people through the floor. If we believe in markets, then the plunge in demand should also send the wages of people with college and advanced degrees in science, engineering, and other STEM areas through the floor," writes Dean Baker, Center for Economic and Policy Research, Washington D.C. (Feb 5th, 2020)
Technology is Changing Our Memory. How Can We Use It Best?
"Whereas once we used technologies such as the stone tablet or quill pen, we are now more likely to use devices like post-it notes, smartphones and the internet to store information that we might otherwise forget. How can we use these memory tools optimally?" asks Sam J. Gilbert, University College London (Dec. 11th, 2019)
Gig economy is making workers feel lonely and powerless
"The gig economy is quickly becoming a central part of Canadian life. The jobs aren’t just limited to Uber and Skip the Dishes. Grocery stores, laundries and more are banking on a new workforce that will accept jobs on a per-task basis. Even a hallmark of Canadian life — snow-shovelling — is being absorbed into the gig economy. A recent startup in Calgary lets homeowners hire shovellers using their smartphones," write three leading Canadian scholars (Dec. 4th, 2019)
Change your phone settings so Apple, Google can’t track your movements
"Websites and apps make it difficult, and sometimes impossible, for most people to say no to aggressive surveillance and data collection practices. In my role as a scholar of human-computer interaction," writes Jen King, Stanford University (Nov 6th, 2019)
Women in Tech and Business Suffer because of the American Myth of Meritocracy
"Entrepreneurship is an area where the myths and realities of the American meritocracy come to a head. In the U.S., women own 39 percent of all privately owned businesses but receive only around 4 percent of venture capital funding. Put another way, male-led ventures receive 96 percent of all funding," writes Banu Ozkazanc-Pan, Brown University (Oct. 30th, 2019)