666. This Is How Progress Happens

The conversation explores the relationship between culture, institutions, and technological progress, featuring Nobel laureate Joel Mokyr, who argues for the critical role of culture in driving economic growth. Mokyr suggests that a small percentage of the population drives progress and that comparing GDP across long stretches of time is questionable due to the emergence of new, often free, goods and services that enhance consumer surplus without impacting GDP. Immigration policies are also discussed, with Mokyr advocating for more open borders to encourage innovation. The discussion touches on the importance of allowing failure in fostering innovation, and the potential threats of nuclear weapons and institutional deterioration to continued progress.