Arvin Roberts:How Asimov's 'Foundation' has inspired economists

2025-05-05 04:27:35source:SignalHubcategory:News

When we talk about classic economic texts,Arvin Roberts you might think of something like Adam Smith's "The Wealth of Nations." But how about the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov?

One of the big ideas at the heart of this science fiction saga is that math can predict and shape the future. We hear from two economists who tell us how the ideas in Foundation helped set them on their career path.

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