Power and Progress: a critical synthesis of Acemoglu and Johnson’s work on the interplay between technology, institutions, and power

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18804353

Keywords:

Technology, workers, power, productivity, institutions

Abstract

This review article offers a critical and structured synthesis of Acemoglu and Johnson’s Power and Progress: Our Thousand-Year Struggle for Technology and Prosperity (2023). The analysis focuses on the interaction between technology, institutions, power, and prosperity. On the one hand, it argues that technological development is not neutral, but rather the result of political and social decisions that shape the direction of change. On the other hand, through an interdisciplinary approach and analytical synthesis, it examines historical and contemporary lessons on how elites have shaped innovation to serve their own interests, and how inclusive institutions can counteract these dynamics. Finally, the article proposes pathways for democratizing technology and advancing toward truly shared prosperity.

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Author Biographies

Blas Ramos, Universidad de los Andes (ULA) Mérida

Venezuelan. Bachelor of Political Science. University of the Andes (ULA), Mérida, Venezuela

José Contreras, Universidad Metropolitana: Caracas, Distrito Capital, VE

PhD in Economics from Texas A&M University, USA. Master of Science from the Central University of Venezuela (UCV) and mathematician at UCV. Professor at the Metropolitan University of Caracas.

References

Acemoglu, D., & Johnson, S. (2023). Poder y Progreso. Bogotá: Planeta.

Acemoglu, D. J. (2012). Por qué Fracasan los Países. Barcelona. España: Ediciones Deusto.

Brynjolfsson, E. &. (2014). La Segunda Era de las Maquinas. Trabajo, progreso y prosperidad en una época de tecnologías brillantes. Nueva York.

Daron Acemoglu, J. R. (2019). El Pasillo Estrecho. Barcelona: DEUSTO. Obtenido de https://proassetspdlcom.cdnstatics2.com/usuaris/libros_contenido/arxius/42/41516_ El_pasillo_estrecho.pdf.

Goldin, C. &. (2009). La Carrera entre la Educación y la Tecnología. Harvard University: Estados Unidos.

North, D. C. (1993). Instituciones Cambio Institucional y Desempeño Económico. México, D.F: Fondo de Cultura Económica.

Sen, A. (2000). Desarrollo y Libertad. Buenos Aires: Planeta.

Stiglitz. (2020). Personas, poder y ganancias. Capitalismo progresista para una era de descontento. Colombia:Taurus.

Suleyman, M., & Bhaskar, M. (2023). Tecnología, Poder y el Gran Dilema del Siglo XXI. México: Debate.

Zuboff, S. (2019/2020). La era del capitalismo de la vigilancia, La lucha por un futuro humano frente a las nuevas fronteras del poder. Barcelona-España: Planeta.

Published

2026-02-27

How to Cite

Ramos, B., & Contreras, J. (2026). Power and Progress: a critical synthesis of Acemoglu and Johnson’s work on the interplay between technology, institutions, and power. Ágora De Heterodoxias, 12(1), 89-114. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18804353

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 1 (2026): January-June

Section

Original articles from researches

Copyright (c) 2026 Copyright © 2026 The Authors

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