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  • © 2019

Progress or Freedom

Who Gets to Govern Society’s Economic and Technological Future?

Palgrave Macmillan
  • Challenges the dominance and power of technology companies and the vacuum left by economists and politicians
  • Affirms the primacy of humans over machines and the consideration of rational arguments over prophecy
  • Considers a future where scientific breakthroughs must be governed by rules agreed on a global scale

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Table of contents (9 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xv
  2. Introduction: The New Human Condition

    • Jean-Hervé Lorenzi, Mickaël Berrebi
    Pages 1-12
  3. A Major Stagnation, But Not a Secular One

    • Jean-Hervé Lorenzi, Mickaël Berrebi
    Pages 13-40
  4. The High Tech Eden

    • Jean-Hervé Lorenzi, Mickaël Berrebi
    Pages 41-75
  5. A Shattered Labour Market

    • Jean-Hervé Lorenzi, Mickaël Berrebi
    Pages 77-112
  6. Human Genius at the Controls

    • Jean-Hervé Lorenzi, Mickaël Berrebi
    Pages 113-134
  7. A Disengaged Society?

    • Jean-Hervé Lorenzi, Mickaël Berrebi
    Pages 135-148
  8. Who Governs: Politicians, or Technology Prophets?

    • Jean-Hervé Lorenzi, Mickaël Berrebi
    Pages 149-168
  9. Two Possible Paths: The Great Parting of Ways

    • Jean-Hervé Lorenzi, Mickaël Berrebi
    Pages 169-184
  10. Re-humanising the World

    • Jean-Hervé Lorenzi, Mickaël Berrebi
    Pages 185-211
  11. Back Matter

    Pages 213-215

About this book

Technological dominance is shifting the balance of global economic stability. This is the central premise behind the latest book from Lorenzi and Berrebi who view the rise of artificial intelligence, robotics, use of private data, and genetic transformation, among other developments, culminating in new economic conditions that require a fresh sense of governance in order for society to sustain order. Whilst progress in technology provides numerous opportunities and hope, is the desire to pursue these ambitions in innovation putting our society at risk of being undermined and, ultimately, governed by technology firms? How will these changes affect economic outlooks in an age of growing inequality and aging populations? What role do politicians serve in facilitating these changes? The decline of a labour force, the use of Big Data and increased speeds of communication are but three examples that the authors address in their quest to understand where the limits should lie between progressand disruption for the future of society.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Paris Dauphine University, Paris, France

    Jean-Hervé Lorenzi

  • Paris, France

    Mickaël Berrebi

About the authors

Jean-Hervé Lorenzi is Professor of Economics at Paris-Dauphine University, France and President of the Cercle des économistes.


Mickaël Berrebi graduated from the Ecole Supérieure des Sciences Economiques et Commerciales (ESSEC) in Paris and received his masters from Paris-Dauphine University, France. He is a fully qualified actuary and works as a financial advisor.


Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 19.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 27.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access