This week, the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences was awarded to Joel Mokyr, professor of economics and history at Northwestern University. Sonal Chokshi interviewed Mokyr by phone in November 2016, shortly after his book, A Culture of Growth: The Origins of the Modern Economy, was originally published – on why Enlightenment culture sparked the Industrial Revolution. Why did the Industrial Revolution take place where it did, and then spread beyond? It had to do with a competitive, open market of ideas, Mokyr argues — a transnational “Republic of Letters” (not unlike the crypto ethos of online open source, decentralization, and more;). We’re sharing the full interview with Mokyr & @smc90 here, covering important themes from the history of progress that are relevant today: - going against ancient wisdom, and being able to contest ideas - the role of trust, collaboration, and credit in collaboration - competitive markets for ideas, elite vs. access in the printing press vs. the internet - the role of institutions and emergent organizations - 2 key ways to drive tech progress! - how to measure economic progress when technology is dematerialized …and more. Here are a few snippets from the interview 👇(a16z crypto)