Hacker News Reader

Comment by dantheman | Hacker News Reader

Economic growth and technical innovation go hand in hand. As the economy grows the pie gets bigger, as long as everyones absolute amount grows thats good - most people thing that some are shrinking which is not the case. Right now, some peoples are growing at faster rate.

View on HN

Firstly, one can have innovation with no economic growth and vice-versa, the two phenomena are distinct and separate. Much of econonic growth is about organisatuonal aspect's of society, rather than inventing new technology. Technology depebds on world of atoms, ans discoveries do not come on demand, nor are they particularly well rewarded. Einstein did not die a billionaire. Neither did most great scientists.

Lastly, some pies are not growing.

Einstein didn't develop technology, he was a scientist. Science != Technology, but Science and Technology and are linked. Often times technology precedes the science, and then the science is developed and advances the technology.

What does this mean? Are Computer scientists developing technology?

All technology is a science, i think you are trying to draw is the distinction between fundamental science that discovers laws of nature, and indutrial kind that figures out the best process for manufacturing stainless steel.

>> "Often times technology precedes the science," This can happen by freak accident, but generally science has to find and researched some law of nature before you can take advantage of it to develop some product or manufacturing process.

Sorry, I should've said `disproportionately benefits`. Economic growth in this context only serves to further increase inequality.

It is not. People judge their own wealth relative to that of others. Thus reducing inequality is a lot more important than increasing total wealth.

I completely disagree - increasing total wealth allows new things and is more important than how people judge their wealth relative to others.

People are not equal in many ways - I don't see why we always focus on wealth. What about influence, what about looks, what about education, what about family life quality, etc...

I completely disagree - increasing total wealth allows new things and is more important than how people judge their wealth relative to others.

You just restated your opinion without providing any new arguments.

> People are not equal in many ways - I don't see why we always focus on wealth. What about influence, what about looks, what about education, what about family life quality, etc...

Most of these things can't be redistributed.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com