From the Technological Mirage to the Social Breakthrough

Godet, M. (1986). From the Technological Mirage to the Social Breakthrough. IIASA Collaborative Paper. IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria: CP-86-003

Preview

Text CP-86-003.pdf Download (354kB) | Preview

Abstract

Former economic research at IIASA focused on comparative studies of structural changes in developed countries. The intensity of these changes has serious, and sometimes severe social implications. One area of current concern throughout the world is the diffusion of new technologies with a high potential in substituting labor in manufacturing and services, as well as drastically changing the existing patterns of international trade.

In the process of formulating an agenda for the research within the Technology-Economy-Society (TES) Program, IIASA organized an expert meeting on "Socio-Economic Impacts of New Technologies", which was held in Warsaw, Poland, from 18 to 20 November 1985. Twenty-six participants from eleven countries and four international organizations discussed possible IIASA research in this field and came to an understanding that IIASA can and must contribute to the development of a conceptual framework for analyzing and forecasting the impact of high technology (e.g. robotics).

M. Godet, an outstanding scholar contributing greatly to this issue and having been successful in the FAST program, helped us structure the discussions during the meeting, in particular as the Chairman of the session on "Impacts of High Technology on the National Economy".

This paper summarizes, in a sense, M. Godet's vision of the problem. We hope that it will stimulate IIASA staff and other scholars in their thoughts about the very complex problem of socio-economic impacts of high technology.

Actions (login required)

View Item