James Bessen, an economist, is a lecturer at Boston University Law School. He was founder and CEO of a software company that developed the first desktop publishing program.
"Mr. Bessen sets out to refute the arguments of . . .
techno-pessimists, relying on economic analysis and on a fresh
reading of history."—Tamar Jacoby, The Wall Street Journal
"A book that gets to the heart of the debate on productivity. . . .
He provides at least a dozen policy prescriptions that are as
relevant to the UK as they are to the US. . . . Nicky Morgan:
read this book."—Andrew Hilton, Financial World
"Sometimes a book seems to fit so neatly with a reader’s own
preconceptions that one does not know whether to say ‘well
done’ or be irritated that someone else got there
first. This is one of those books. . . . I can only concur:
competence with emerging technology does not require a university
diploma. But it does require an enabling environment."—Andrew
Hilton, Financial World
"James Bessen is uniquely qualified to interpret technology issues,
having both rich historical expertise and startup experience.
I especially like the way he demystifies the concept of skills and
questions the apotheosis of college diplomas and intellectual
property rights. This is one of the most hopeful yet
realistic books in years."—Gavin Wright, author of Sharing the
Prize: The Economics of the Civil Rights Revolution in the American
South
"James Bessen’s provocative new book explores a critically
important economic question: what is it that in some epochs,
including today, severs the link between productivity growth and
increases in the median wage? His answer, developed within a rich
tapestry of historical narrative, focuses on the changing
incentives faced by firms and individuals to invest in new skills
and capabilities as technological systems are born, go through
adolescence, and eventually mature. His analysis and policy
recommendations offer many challenges to established ways of
thinking."—Alexander J. Field, author of A Great Leap Forward:
1930s Depression and US Economic Growth
"Today everyone agrees that education is the key to wage growth.
But what kind of education? In this enlightening and insightful
book, James Bessen shows that economic history can provide some
useful and surprising answers to this question."—Hal Varian, Chief
Economist, Google
"James Bessen, an acute observer of economics and technology,
thinks lags from learning-by-doing explain why the IT revolution
hasn’t yet boosted wages. A fascinating hypothesis—and book."—Eric
S. Maskin, Nobel laureate in Economics
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