Economist Tyler Cowen says our overwhelming priorities should be maximising economic growth and making civilisation more stable. Is he right?

Abstract

After reading Tyler Cowen’s influential blog, Marginal Revolution, the interviewer engaged Cowen in a wide-ranging conversation about his latest book, Stubborn Attachments, which argues that maximizing the rate of sustainable economic growth while respecting human rights and general principles is the best way to preserve and improve humanity’s long-term future. While discussing topics such as genetic engineering, animal suffering, future technology, and the risk of war, the interviewer challenged Cowen’s focus on economic growth and presented alternative perspectives on moral obligations and Peter Singer’s altruism. Despite their differences, they agreed that our actions have significant moral implications and should aim for small, incremental improvements toward a better world.