On “a very provocative hypothesis by Deirdre McCloskey”
In “Jealousy as a driver of innovation and growth! There’s some merit in this idea” (14 July 2012), Sanjeev Sabhlok says:
I chanced upon a very provocative hypothesis by Deirdre McCloskey who suggests that the roots of modernisation can be traced to the Dutch revolt of 1568 against Spain. But more generally, it is the jealousy that people feel about others (including other nations) that motivates economic growth. The desire to keep up with (or rather, outdo) the Joneses is a great movitator.
