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Work and consumption in an era of unbalanced technological advance

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  • Benjamin M. Friedman

    (Harvard University)

Abstract

Keynes’s “Grandchildren” essay famously predicted both a rapid increase in productivity and a sharp shrinkage of the workweek – to 15 h – over the century from 1930. Keynes was right (so far) about output per capita, but wrong about the workweek. The key reason is that he failed to allow for changing distribution. With widening inequality, median income (and therefore the income of most families) has risen, and is now rising, much more slowly than he anticipated. The failure of the workweek to shrink as he predicted follows. Other factors, including habit formation, socially induced consumption preferences, and network effects are part of the story too. Combining the analysis of Keynes, Meade and Galbraith suggests a way forward for economic policy under the prevailing circumstances.

Suggested Citation

  • Benjamin M. Friedman, 2017. "Work and consumption in an era of unbalanced technological advance," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 27(2), pages 221-237, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:joevec:v:27:y:2017:i:2:d:10.1007_s00191-015-0426-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s00191-015-0426-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Dirk Krueger & Fabrizio Perri, 2006. "Does Income Inequality Lead to Consumption Inequality? Evidence and Theory -super-1," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 73(1), pages 163-193.
    5. Constantinides, George M, 1990. "Habit Formation: A Resolution of the Equity Premium Puzzle," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 98(3), pages 519-543, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Spencer, David A., 2023. "Technology and work: Past lessons and future directions," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    2. David A. Spencer, 2023. "Automation and Well-Being: Bridging the Gap between Economics and Business Ethics," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 187(2), pages 271-281, October.

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