Liberate the scientists

摘要

At the turn of the 19th century, the world stood poised for one of its greatest transformations. An increasing ability to apply the fruits of science to everyday needs created a priceless new paradigm for advancing humanity. In the decades that followed, as we worked out how to better manage this process, we began to emerge from the stagnation and suffering that marked preceding centuries. Economic growth exerted its life-enhancing magic. The industrial revolution in the UK sparked social changes that eventually spread far beyond its shores and steadily transformed standards of living, at least for the industrialised parts of the world. Unfortunately, progress seems to have slowed recently, and the industrialised world might be heading for stagnation once more. Why? To answer that, we need to understand the origins of economic growth.