Joel Mokyr Libros

This book, first published in 2005, offers a scholarly exploration of its subject matter, providing insights and analyses that are relevant to both academics and practitioners. As part of the Routledge imprint, it reflects rigorous research and contributes to ongoing discussions in its field. The work is designed to engage readers with its comprehensive approach and is a valuable resource for those seeking to deepen their understanding of the topic.

Why did Western countries become so much wealthier than the rest of the world? And what explains the huge rise in incomes during the Industrial Revolution - and why did Britain lead the way? This title offers a perspective for understanding Britain's extraordinary rise during the Industrial Revolution.

Exploring the complexities of the Industrial Revolution, this revised edition features contributions from Joel Mokyr and four distinguished scholars who examine various interpretations and assumptions surrounding this pivotal era. Each chapter is updated to reflect new arguments and findings since its original publication in 1993. The book provides a comprehensive survey of economic history, making it essential for both economic historians and those interested in the broader historical context of Great Britain during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

During the late eighteenth century, innovations in Europe triggered the Industrial Revolution and the sustained economic progress that spread across the globe. While much has been made of the details of the Industrial Revolution, what remains a mystery is why it took place at all. Why did this revolution begin in the West and not elsewhere, and why did it continue, leading to today's unprecedented prosperity? In this groundbreaking book, celebrated economic historian Joel Mokyr argues that a culture of growth specific to early modern Europe and the European Enlightenment laid the foundations for the scientific advances and pioneering inventions that would instigate explosive technological and economic development. Bringing together economics, the history of science and technology, and models of cultural evolution, Mokyr demonstrates that culture- the beliefs, values, and preferences in society that are capable of changing behavior- was a deciding factor in societal transformations.

The book explores the historical origins and mechanisms behind the knowledge economy, emphasizing the role of "useful" knowledge in driving economic and social change. Joel Mokyr argues that the remarkable growth in the modern West over the past two centuries was fueled not only by new technological ideas but also by enhanced access to these ideas through social networks like universities and publishers. Using rich historical evidence, he illustrates how shifts in the intellectual and social landscape contributed to the Industrial Revolution and ongoing technological advancement.

"During the late eighteenth century, innovations in Europe triggered the Industrial Revolution and the sustained economic progress that spread across the globe. While much has been made of the details of the Industrial Revolution, what remains a mystery is why it took place at all. Why did this revolution begin in the West and not elsewhere, and why did it continue, leading to today's unprecedented prosperity? In this groundbreaking book, celebrated economic historian Joel Mokyr argues that a culture of growth specific to early modern Europe and the European Enlightenment laid the foundations for the scientific advances and pioneering inventions that would instigate explosive technological and economic development. Bringing together economics, the history of science and technology, and models of cultural evolution, Mokyr demonstrates that culture--the beliefs, values, and preferences in society that are capable of changing behavior--was a deciding factor in societal transformations. Mokyr looks at the period 1500-1700 to show that a politically fragmented Europe fostered a competitive "market for ideas" and a willingness to investigate the secrets of nature. At the same time, a transnational community of brilliant thinkers known as the "Republic of Letters" freely circulated and distributed ideas and writings. This political fragmentation and the supportive intellectual environment explain how the Industrial Revolution happened in Europe but not China, despite similar levels of technology and intellectual activity. In Europe, heterodox and creative thinkers could find sanctuary in other countries and spread their thinking across borders. In contrast, China's version of the Enlightenment remained controlled by the ruling elite. Combining ideas from economics and cultural evolution, A Culture of Growth provides startling reasons for why the foundations of our modern economy were laid in the mere two centuries between Columbus and Newton."--Publisher's description