In their influential book Power and Progress: Our Thousand-Year Struggle Over Technology and Prosperity, economists Daron Acemoglu and Simon Johnson challenge the notion that technological advancement automatically leads to collective prosperity.
They argue that technology often benefits elites while leaving workers behind—unless governed by inclusive policies. From the Industrial Revolution to the AI era, unregulated innovation has led to rising inequality and job insecurity.
The authors propose a clear roadmap: worker retraining, progressive taxation, labour protections, and technologies that support—not replace—humans. They emphasise that progress is not guaranteed; it must be directed by policy and civic engagement.
The book is not anti-technology but a call to action—urging us to shape a future where technology benefits all, not just a few. Acemoglu, often cited as a Nobel contender, and Johnson deliver a work of enduring significance that demands urgent attention.
DR INTIKHAB ULFAT,
Karachi.
