This event is jointly hosted by Yale-NUS and the Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore.
ABSTRACT
Despite China’s long history of scientific and technological innovation, and despite its long history of economic development, Europe would dramatically overtake China in both of these areas from the eighteenth century onwards. Such dynamics of global growth have puzzled historians for generations. Generally, the questions of scientific growth and economic growth have been addressed separately within different disciplinary enclaves. In this informal lunchtime meeting, we aim to bring the perspectives of science historians and economic historians together into fruitful dialogue. Professor Mokyr, a leading economic historian, will kick off discussion by way of a short lecture about his recent work on the Needham Question: Why did modern science develop in Europe rather than China?
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Joel Mokyr is the Robert H. Strotz Professor of Arts and Sciences at Northwestern University. He specializes in economic history and the economics of technological change. His publications include The Lever of Riches: Technological Creativity and Economic Progress (1992), The Gifts of Athena: Historical Origins of the Knowledge Economy (2002), and The Enlightened Economy (2009).
RSVP
Victoria Poon (victoria.poon@yale-nus.edu.sg)
Lunch will be provided for those who RSVP
