Motivation

Half of economic growth is attributable to technological change

Technology is the main driving force of productivity and economic growth. Historical studies attribute about half of economic growth to technological change and the other half to the combined effect of all other driving forces, such as the larger and better-qualified labor force and accumulated stock of capital. Many studies also indicate that technology could  play a similar important role in the future. For example, the new emissions scenarios developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change with a substantial contribution from IIASA researchers identify technology as a more important determinant of future greenhouse gas emissions and possible climate change than all other driving forces put together.

Adverse social and environmental impacts typically grow non-linearly with the scale of application of new technologies. Technology is also an  important element of strategies to identify and address adverse impacts. This  is the paradox of technological development that the TNT Project seeks to understand better.

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Last updated:13 Jun 2006