Our Obsolete Technology Mentality
In 1947 Karl Polanyi published an essay entitled "Our Obsolete Market Mentality" [Polanyi 1947]. Polanyi argued that the common (but mistaken) view that self-regulating markets are the primary agent of progress was preventing the necessary coordination of social intervention and inhibiting democratization of the economy. This essay argues along a parallel line, but addresses institutionalists. In short, this essay argues that some institutionalists hold a common (but mistaken) view that technology defines progress: technology is the sole agent of progress, a universal process, and always progressive. This view inhibits communication among us, and between us and policymakers, other