Power and Progress

Power and Progress traces the relationship between technological advancement and economic distribution across centuries. Acemoglu and Robinson challenge the notion that technology automatically improves living standards, instead arguing that political and economic power structures determine who benefits from innovation. The book examines historical cases—from the Industrial Revolution to artificial intelligence—showing how technology can either democratize opportunity or entrench elite control.

The authors contend that the post-1970s slowdown in wage growth despite rapid technological change reflects deliberate policy choices and power imbalances rather than technological inevitability. They argue for institutional reforms and democratic participation in shaping technological development to ensure broad-based prosperity. The work synthesizes economic history, political economy, and contemporary technology policy debates.