In the latest EconTalk episode, I talk with Dan Pink about the ideas in his book, A Whole New Mind. Dan argues that technology and outsourcing will increase the economic value of various right-brain characteristics such as empathy, aesthetics, big picture and contextual thinking and so on. It’s an attempt to figure out how the work place might evolve if left brain thinking becomes much less expensive due to outsourcing or less marketable due to technology.
He’s on to something. And some of the examples of how the marketplace has already responded show how the pessimists such as Blinder and others are scaring people unnecessarily. I liked the book a lot—Dan writes very well. He also speaks well. Check out the podcast.
Coming next week, David Weinberger talks about his book, Everything is Miscellaneous: The Power of the New Digital Disorder.
