March Meetup: The Industrial Revolution and Progress

We live in a world that is, hands-down, a happier place for most people compared with the pre-industrial world. Contrary to what you might have heard, living standards have even improved since the time before the youngest people in the meetup were born. I will use my knowledge of history to discuss some of the great changes during and since the industrial revolution. This will include measuring technological progress in terms of the quality and price of consumer goods, as well as other indices of well-being such as lifespan. I can also address some of the "hard cases" such as early British industrialization, child labor, and recent price increases in health care and higher education. Finally, I will show that inequality of living standards is part of the story of progress, and why even green-eyed monsters should prefer industrial inequality to other economic systems.

The format for this salon will be different than normal. The first half will be my own presentation, complete with power point, and the second half will be a discussion based on that power point.

As usual, we encourage you to bring food, drink, and suggestions for future meetups.

Dial 617-460-3350 for someone to let you in the building. Your car will not be towed from the parking lot before midnight.