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Technological dominance is shifting the balance of global economic stability. This is the central premise behind the latest book from Lorenzi and Berrebi who view the rise of artificial intelligence, robotics, use of private data, and genetic transformation, among other developments, culminating in new economic conditions that require a fresh sense of governance in order for society to sustain order. Whilst progress in technology provides numerous opportunities and hope, is the desire to pursue these ambitions in innovation putting our society at risk of being undermined and, ultimately, governed by technology firms? How will these changes affect economic outlooks in an age of growing inequality and aging populations? What role do politicians serve in facilitating these changes? The decline of a labour force, the use of Big Data and increased speeds of communication are but three examples that the authors address in their quest to understand where the limits should lie between progress and disruption for the future of society.

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1. Introduction: The New Human Condition

i. The eternal prophecy of a better world

ii. The recurring conflict between progress and society

iii. Who will shape the twenty-first century?

iv. The fear and hope of an expectant world

2. A Major Stagnation, But Not a Secular One

i. Secular stagnation, or the ways of freedom?

ii. Transition, the precursor of an industrial revolution

iii. A decisive and growing influence

3. The High Tech Eden

i. Artificial intelligence or dehumanisation

ii. Blockchain or the new trust

iii. Big Data or the disappearance of free will

iv. Genetic engineering or the man-god

4. A Shattered Labour Market

i. Back to the past

ii. The dream of universal knowledge

iii. The dream of widespread entrepreneurship

iv. The boom in low qualifications

v. New wage relations

5. Human Genius at the Controls

i. A great scientific leap

ii. The stranglehold of the network communities

iii. Widespread intrusion

6. A Disengaged Society?

i. A multi-speed world

ii. The shock to the middle classes

iii. Triumphant populism

7. Who Governs: Politicians, or Technology Prophets?

i. The future of human society in the big tech firms´ hands

ii. A society controlled by the big tech firms

iii. The dream of avoiding state taxation

8. Two Possible Paths: The Great Parting of Ways

i. Brave Westworld

ii. Anthropos

9. Re-humanising the World

i. Breaking the technological monopolies

ii. Redefining a global system of ethics

iii. Restoring real privacy

iv. Putting technology back in the service of prosperity

v. Towards a new public authority

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Jean-Hervé Lorenzi is Professor of Economics at Paris-Dauphine University, France and President of the Cercle des économistes.
Micka‰l Berrebi graduated from the Ecole Supérieure des Sciences Economiques et Commerciales (ESSEC) in Paris and received his masters from Paris-Dauphine University, France. He is a fully qualified actuary and works as a financial advisor.

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