An MIT Alumni Association Publication

What will life be like in 100 years? Daron Acemoglu, an Elizabeth and James Killian Professor in the Department of Economics, pondered this question as he awaited the birth of his son.

Over time, Acemoglu’s contemplation led him to wonder what kind of world his potential grandchildren would inherit, and how recent political, social, and economic trends would shape this future society.

Acemoglu tackles this question in “The World our Grandchildren Will Inherit: The Rights Revolution and Beyond,” published earlier this month by the National Bureau of Economic Research. The paper outlines what Acemoglu believes are the 10 most important trends since the early twentieth century, and Acemoglu makes 10 predictions on the next 100 years.

Outlook-wise, Acemoglu's predictions are a mixed bag. On the positive side, he believes people will live longer, healthier lives and an end to war is possible. On the other hand, he sees uneven economic growth and climate change worsening.

Business Insider created a slideshow of Acemoglu’s predictions.
  1. Global pollution will get much worse.
  2. Islamic regimes will fall.
  3. War could go away.
  4. The rebirth of US manufacturing.
  5. People will have longer and healthier lives.
  6. Robots will replace manufacturers and farmers.
  7. The middle class will continue to diminish.
  8. The global economy will prosper.
  9. We'll have automated cars.
  10. Democracy will recede.
What's your take? Do you agree or disagree with Acemoglu? Or, as past predictions have shown, it's impossible to accurately conjecture what life will be like in 100 years. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below or on Facebook.

Comments

ghbutihnj

Fri, 09/07/2012 11:57am

thanks for informing us of negative changes towards poverty

:)