What's progress?
Article Abstract:
Rapid material progress is a modern phenomenon, though societies have long sought to become more civilized and improve their knowledge. The Enlightenment coincided with a rise in material prosperity and this link may be less string in modern times, according to academic and economist, Richard Bronk. Human advance and economic growth no longer appear to be linked in western societies. Congestion, pollution and other market failures create problems. Bronk tends to associate liberalism with too great an emphasis on gross domestic product, but liberals do not have clearly defined goals about what society should be like.
Publication Name: The Economist (UK)
Subject: Business, international
ISSN: 0013-0613
Year: 1999
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
On the mend
Article Abstract:
The economy of countries taking part in European monetary union is undergoing a recovery, and unemployment is dropping while the value of the euro is rising. There were fears that high taxes and a heavy burden of regulations would hamper growth in the region, but this has changed as business confidence increases and consumption rises. Unemployment is still high, and there are factors that hamper growth such as German and French labor regulations. A drop in US stock prices could also hit economic growth in both the US and Europe.
Publication Name: The Economist (UK)
Subject: Business, international
ISSN: 0013-0613
Year: 1999
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic: