Technological progress mostly works by outrunning regulation. Once the regulators move in to prevent the nasty side effects of innovation, progress grinds to a halt.
-
-
Replying to @Plinz
Medicine is heavily regulated and seems to be making progress. Consumer electronics are regulated, if not as heavily, and progress is absolutely going strong. Industrial automation is sort-of regulated (OSHA, industrial norms) and progressing. Incentives trump regulation.
1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes -
Replying to @FPallopides
I'd argue that after a period of rapid progress in the last century, medicine has stalled. Life expectancy and quality of life are basically not increasing, but costs are exploding. We cannot even grow new teeth.
1 reply 0 retweets 2 likes -
Replying to @Plinz
Not sure about the pace of recent progress (always looks faster from up close), but was medicine significantly less regulated last century?
1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes
I think it was less regulated! Getting a new substance or procedure past the FDA has become very expensive. For instance, the invention of hormonal contraception might be much harder today, no?
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.