The Western world is often facing a great amount of debt. It is a reason why its relative power is declining in the world and Asia is today the first economic continent in the world. However investing in new technologies is detrimental to remain competitive in the future. For instance Germany did a great investment in the infrastructures and the new technologies while France is facing an overwhelming amount of debt. It is the reason why it is necessary at the same time to fight the debt (but are politicians really concerned about it?) and to invest in new technologies.
A great aspect of the world we live in is the possibility to anyone to innovate with relatively few means compared to companies for instance. Anyone with an internet connection has the possibility to access a great deal of information. If it excludes a great deal of people, it is however a lot more inclusive than before. It is the reason why internet can allow what Krugman told a more and more intellectual elite, and less based on social background. There is unfairness linked to it but it is a good evolution.
It is showing the ability to adapt of capitalism. It is possible Marx underestimated, in his will to create a scientifical thinking, to take into account this reality. Camus, in the revolted man, criticized this rigid approach of Marx. The inclusivity internet can allow can allow a great deal of people to have access to many information an to be able to innovate. It is the reason why public policies should support more small entrepreneur and foster more innovation from small companies, for instance organizing more prices that may lead to public fundings. If the innovations are successful the investment can be rentable. Misfortunately the system today is built to support oligarchies. This system has already been criticized by Smith who is however the founder of liberalism.
However, in the context we live in, these solutions include to work more. Except penible works the majority of the population should have less free time. With the evolution of medicine and the progress of environmental concerns the general population is able to live a longer time with quite better health than before. It is the reason why, to fight better the debt, to innovate more and to maintain the social system, it will be detrimental in the future for the general population to work more. There is no secret : it the Germans for instance have a much better financial system than ours, it is because the general population works more years and more hours than in France. Misfortunately the way French politicians manage the public finances make us ask if they are serious and even sometimes why they are paid.
Of course more innovation goes hand to hand with more education. But France overall doesn’t take enough into account this necessity. Only the Asians kept the classical education and the benefits can be seen. Investment in libraries, in schools and in associations is necessary but encouraging more at the same time the society of work. It is the reason why policies to encourage entrepreneurs should be for instance more developed. It can be costy in the beginning but it can be very beneficial at least in the middle run.
Last this question is linked to the vision of labour and the distinction of Arendt of the homo laborans and the homo faber. In the first case labour is seen as a way to survive and a necessity but also a burden ; in the second case it is seen as a means of accomplishment. Misfortunately it is decades French society for instance work less than before and it led at the end of the course to more and more cases of homo laborans in the majority of the population. People should be slaves to work but working more can also lead to more homo faber, and more innovation is one of the possible realization of this target.
The observer 