Innovation, Equity & The Future of Prosperity

How can innovation be beneficial to all?
Innovation can promote economic growth and social and cultural well-being. However, innovation is often conceived and implemented in a way that leads to unequal distribution of its benefits. This program takes a multidisciplinary and cross-national look at how, why, and when the benefits of innovation aren’t always broadly shared.
The benefits of innovation tend to be concentrated in a limited number of industries, regions and hands. Innovation that exacerbates – rather than reduces – inequality can undermine public support for science and innovation and contribute to broader political alienation.
The program examines how the policies used to generate and diffuse innovation affect the distribution of opportunities and outcomes in society. It also looks at which institutions and other factors facilitate or impede the development and implementation of distribution-sensitive innovation policies, programs and practices.
The program will develop knowledge that can be used to design and implement innovation policies, programs and practices that support equitable economic growth and fair distribution around the globe.
Detailed Program Description for Applicants to the CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars Program, 2021-2023
Founded
2019
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Economics
Political Science
Sociology
Engineering
History
Law
Legal Studies
Public Policy
Social Policy
CIFAR Contact
Fellows & Advisors
Program Directors
Dan Breznitz
Program Co-Director
Susan Helper
Program Co-Director
National Bureau of Economic Research
Amos Zehavi
Associate Program Director
Fellows
Yochai Benkler
Fellow
Aldo Geuna
Fellow
University of Torino
Jane Gingrich
Fellow
William Lazonick
Fellow
Keun Lee
Fellow
Kenneth Lipartito
Fellow
Advisors
Suzanne Berger
Advisor
J. Bradford DeLong
Advisor
Walter Powell
Advisor
Manuel Trajtenberg
Advisor
Support Us
CIFAR is a registered charitable organization supported by the governments of Canada, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec as well as foundations, individuals, corporations, and international partner organizations.