Tue. September 2, 12:15PM
An exclusive pre-release conversation with Carl Benedikt Frey, Oxford economist, global authority on innovation, and award-winning author of The Technology Trap
Why do some societies flourish technologically while others falter? Why does every leap in innovation—from the steam engine to AI—spark disruption before progress? And what if today’s technological boom ends in stagnation rather than prosperity?
In this exclusive conversation ahead of global publication, Carl Benedikt Frey, Oxford economic historian and author of the acclaimed The Technology Trap, explores the forces that drive—and derail—progress. His sweeping new book, How Progress Ends: Technology, Innovation, and the Fate of Nations, traces a thousand years of history, from Song China to the AI frontier, revealing why breakthroughs alone are never enough.
Frey’s argument is urgent and unsettling: progress is possible, but never guaranteed. Innovation thrives only when societies strike a fragile balance—decentralized exploration to make discoveries, and centralized institutions to scale them. Get that balance wrong, and stagnation follows.
Already hailed as a landmark work:
• Mustafa Suleyman calls it “a grand, urgent must-read for anyone who cares about our past, present, and future.”
• Tony Blair says it offers “vital lessons for political leaders seeking to harness innovation.”
• Daron Acemoglu praises it as “far-ranging, intelligent, and essential reading.”
• Joel Mokyr calls it “a magnificent achievement in economic history and policy.”
Join us for this rare opportunity to engage with Carl Benedikt Frey in Brussels—before the book’s official release.
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