Economist:Robert Gordon
Robert Gordon
Biography
American economist at Northwestern University, known for work on productivity and economic growth.
School of Thought
Economic History
Notable Quotes
On Innovation Cycles and Market Bubbles
"The economic revolution of 1870 to 1970 was unique in human history, and unrepeatable."
—Robert Gordon, The Rise and Fall of American Growth (2016), p. 1, Princeton University Press
On Productivity Paradox in Digital Age
"The iPhone added to consumer surplus, but it didn't revolutionize productivity the way electricity did."
—Robert Gordon, The Rise and Fall of American Growth (2016), p. 578, Princeton University Press
On Economic Measurement in Digital Economy
"Techno-optimists confuse innovation with economically significant innovation."
—Robert Gordon, Is U.S. Economic Growth Over? (2012), p. 13
Additional Notable Quotes
On Innovation Cycles and Market Bubbles
"The smartphone has been our last great invention."
—Robert Gordon, Wall Street Journal (2016), January 25, 2016, "Why Innovation Won't Save Us"
On Productivity Paradox in Digital Age
"We wanted flying cars, instead we got 140 characters - and that's actually worse than it sounds."
—Robert Gordon, TED Talk (2013), February 26, 2013
On Economic Measurement in Digital Economy
"Four headwinds are slowing growth: demographics, education, inequality, and debt."
—Robert Gordon, The Rise and Fall of American Growth (2016), p. 605, Princeton University Press