Chapter summary: “Introduction to the Handbook” in Handbook of the Economics of Innovation by Hall and Rosenberg

Hall, B. H., & Rosenberg, N. (2010). Introduction to the Handbook. In Handbook of the Economics of Innovation (Vol. 1, pp. 1-9). Elsevier. DOI: 10.1016/S0169-7218(10)01001-4. Dynamic Nature of the Innovation Process: The innovative process is inherently dynamic, building on past knowledge, inventions, and innovations. This cumulative and evolving nature of innovation is a key theme, …

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Statistics on the future of work – The Economist

The Economist. (2023, November 30). A new age of the worker will overturn conventional thinking. The Economist. Retrieved from [https://www.economist.com/]. Shrinking Wage Gaps: Since 2016, the lowest earners in America have seen faster wage growth than the highest earners. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this trend, reversing 40% of the pre-tax wage inequality that had developed …

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Play summary: Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Act 1: The Rise of Ambition Scene Setting: Scotland, during a time of war. Key Events: Macbeth and Banquo, Scottish generals, encounter three witches who prophesy that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor and eventually King of Scotland, while Banquo's descendants will also be kings. The prophecy begins to come true as Macbeth is indeed …

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Chapter summary: “Socrates” in A History of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russell

Russell, Bertrand. A History of Western Philosophy. Simon & Schuster, 1945. Socrates Historical Ambiguity: The extent of our knowledge about Socrates is a subject of debate among historians, creating uncertainty about how much we truly know of his life and teachings. Athenian Citizen: Socrates, known as an Athenian citizen of moderate means, devoted his life …

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Backgrounder: Pre-Socratic Philosophers

The Milesian School Thales Belief: Argued that water is the primary element and principle of all things. Argument: Based on the observation that life is sustained by moisture and that heat itself seems to originate from and require moisture. Anaximander Belief: Introduced the concept of 'Apeiron' (the indefinite or infinite) as the fundamental principle. Argument: …

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Novella summary: The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

Kafka, Franz. “The Metamorphosis.” Translated by David Wyllie. Project Gutenberg, 2002. Synopsis Chapter 1: Gregor's Transformation: Gregor Samsa wakes up to find himself transformed into a large insect-like creature. He struggles to adjust to his new body and the limitations it imposes. Family's Reaction: His family and his employer's clerk react with shock and horror …

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Chapter summary: “America’s Map” in The New Map: Energy, Climate and, and the Clash of Nations by Daniel Yergin

Yergin, Daniel. "America's New Map." In The New Map: Energy, Climate, and the Clash of Nations, 101-135. New York: Penguin Books, 2021. Shale Revolution's Impact: It drastically changed U.S. energy production, making it a key global player. Led to a decrease in oil and gas prices worldwide due to increased supply. Altered global geopolitical dynamics, …

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Book summary: Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Kahneman, Daniel. “Thinking, Fast and Slow.” Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2011. Two Systems of Thought: System 1: Operates automatically, quickly, with little effort or voluntary control. System 2: Allocates attention to effortful mental activities, including complex calculations. Interaction: System 1 generates suggestions for System 2; if endorsed, becomes beliefs and voluntary actions. Example: Solving a …

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Podcast summary: “The Future of Work”, The Real Story

Ley, S. (Host). (2023, November 10). The future of work [Audio podcast episode]. In The Real Story. BBC World Service. TuneIn. https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/The-Real-Story-p1121281/ AI and Its Growing Influence Concerns and Questions: The podcast delves into the omnipresence of AI in business and society. It raises critical issues about data usage, privacy, and the potential risks associated …

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