The Green Global Age of the Information Revolution: Carlota Perez | #BoFVOICES 2020

Summary

Carlota Perez, an influential economist, discusses the concept of creative destruction and its role in shaping technological revolutions. She advocates for a 'green global golden age' in the information revolution, emphasizing sustainable, global development, and the need for cultural and lifestyle changes. Perez calls for a shift towards renewable energy, waste reduction, and a reimagining of consumption and production, stressing the importance of education and innovation in creating a sustainable and equitable future.

Takeaways

• 🌐 Capitalism reinvents itself every 40 to 70 years, introducing new technologies and a new common sense that shapes our production, consumption, and institutional organization.
• 🔄 Technological revolutions start in specific sectors and gradually spread to encompass most human activities, leading to periods of creative destruction and industrial mutation.
• 🌿 The future must be green and sustainable, recognizing the planet's fragility and the need for a cultural shift towards waste reduction and renewable energy.
• 👔 The fashion industry needs a complete re-invention, moving towards sustainability and rethinking how we dress, produce, and consume clothing.
• 🏡 The concept of well-being is changing, focusing more on access to services, collaboration, sharing, and experiences rather than maximum possessions.
• 💡 Knowledge and experience are the most valuable forms of capital, making lifelong learning essential for increasing well-being in the information age.
• 🌍 Global development is crucial for creating new markets and reducing migrations, with advanced countries having both generous and selfish reasons to support it.
• 🔧 The reshaping of globalization is necessary, spreading economic activities more evenly across the world and rethinking industrial policies for sustainability.
• 💼 Government and business must work together to create a win-win game that benefits all of society, not just the wealthy few.
• 🌟 The potential for a green global golden age exists, but it requires social behavior and pressure to drive the demand for innovation and investment in the right direction.

Q & A

What is the principle of creative destruction as described by Joseph Schumpeter?

Creative destruction, according to Joseph Schumpeter, is a process of industrial mutation that continuously revolutionizes the economic structure from within, incessantly destroying the old one and creating a new one.

Can you explain the concept of a technological revolution as discussed in the script?

A technological revolution is a period when new technologies emerge and spread to encompass most of human activity, beginning in one or a few sectors and eventually transforming the entire economic structure.

What is the significance of the green global age of the information revolution mentioned in the script?

The green global age of the information revolution signifies a cultural and economic shift towards sustainability, where the future is envisioned to be environmentally friendly and globally inclusive, leveraging the digital revolution for social and environmental well-being.

How does Carlota Perez suggest we should change our lifestyle to align with a sustainable future?

Carlota Perez suggests that we should change our lifestyle by reducing waste, embracing renewable energy, reimagining the good life beyond material possessions, and focusing on access to well-being, collaboration, sharing, and experiences.

What role does lifelong learning play in the green global age according to Carlota Perez?

Lifelong learning is considered an expectation for increasing well-being in the green global age, as it helps individuals adapt to new technologies and contributes to the most valuable form of capital, which is knowledge and experience.

How does Carlota Perez view the potential of reshaping globalization?

Carlota Perez believes that globalization should be reshaped to be more evenly spread across the world, with a focus on re-specialization of each country and a win-win collaboration between the state and business for the benefit of society.

What does Carlota Perez suggest for the fashion industry to combat waste and overproduction?

Carlota Perez suggests that the fashion industry needs to reinvent itself, focusing on high-quality, lasting products that can be reused and redesigned, and rethinking the current model of frequent disposal and consumption.

How does Carlota Perez address the issue of job displacement due to technological advancements?

Carlota Perez acknowledges the importance of technological advancements for wealth creation and suggests that job displacement can be managed by discovering new areas of productivity and innovation that align with changing lifestyles and community needs.

What is the role of government in creating a green global golden age according to the script?

The role of government in creating a green global golden age is to stage the game and create a win-win situation between business and society, ensuring that the benefits of technological revolutions are shared across all sectors of society.

How does Carlota Perez define the 'good life' in the context of the green global age?

In the context of the green global age, Carlota Perez defines the 'good life' as one that is not about maximum possessions but about access to well-being, which includes collaboration, sharing, experiences, creativity, and health, rather than material wealth.