Innovation As an Explanation for the Decline in the World’s Population Living at or below a Subsistence Level

26 Pages Posted: 16 Nov 2023

See all articles by Harold Furchtgott-Roth

Harold Furchtgott-Roth

Furchtgott-Roth Economic Enterprises; Hudson Institute; Brooklyn Law School

Date Written: October 24, 2023

Abstract

The percentage share of the world’s population living at a subsistence level has declined steadily for much of the past 200 years and then accelerating to a precipitous decline over the past 25 years. I review various factors that may have led to this long-term decline including innovations in health care, education, and agriculture. I also review more recent innovations that may have accelerated the decline in the past quarter century including wireless technology.

Keywords: Subsistence, innovation, diffusion of technology

JEL Classification: I30, I32, N00, O30, O40

Suggested Citation

Furchtgott-Roth, Harold, Innovation As an Explanation for the Decline in the World’s Population Living at or below a Subsistence Level (October 24, 2023). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4606078 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4606078

Harold Furchtgott-Roth (Contact Author)

Furchtgott-Roth Economic Enterprises ( email )

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Hudson Institute ( email )

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Brooklyn Law School ( email )

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