Freakonomics Radio

666. This Is How Progress Happens

March 6, 2026·53 min·5-min readintervieweconomics
Podzilla Summary (5 min)
TLDR
Economic progress is driven not by broad-based effort but by a small, culturally empowered segment of the population whose innovations are amplified by institutions and shared widely—yet the sustainability of this progress depends on maintaining open, rule-bound societies that tolerate fa

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Guest

J

Joel Mokyr

interview on Freakonomics Radio

Mentions

Books, people, and resources mentioned in this episode.

People

Joel MokyrStephen DubnerDaron AcemogluJames RobinsonPhilippe AghionPeter HowittDouglas NorthFritz HaberFrancis Bacon

Books

A Culture of Growthby Joel Mokyr

Topics

American HistoryAncient HistoryCivil Rights HistoryEconomicsGlobal NewsHistory Of ScienceInequalityMacroeconomics

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