Like many discussions of progress, I think the periodization here is somewhat problematic. In many fields (air travel, agriculture, antibiotics), there was enormous progress from 1945 to 1985 and then less significant but still visible progress from 1985 to 2025. Gymnastics is like this as well -- Mary Lou Retton is closer to a modern gymnast than the ones in your 50s video.
Re progress. The dynamic is that the best methods are copied. It's not that the median scientists is smart. But everything that can be copied gets multiplied. Even poorer countries do utilize some mechanical things close to optimal. Because they only need to copy the blueprint. Your definitely know, but missing in the text......
Like many discussions of progress, I think the periodization here is somewhat problematic. In many fields (air travel, agriculture, antibiotics), there was enormous progress from 1945 to 1985 and then less significant but still visible progress from 1985 to 2025. Gymnastics is like this as well -- Mary Lou Retton is closer to a modern gymnast than the ones in your 50s video.
Interesting about progressive tax in US. But also worth also looking at what has happened to wealth inequality and housing access.
Re progress. The dynamic is that the best methods are copied. It's not that the median scientists is smart. But everything that can be copied gets multiplied. Even poorer countries do utilize some mechanical things close to optimal. Because they only need to copy the blueprint. Your definitely know, but missing in the text......