Issue The Good Economy

Summary

The Good Economy asks what would happen if the future knowledge economy were shaped by the welfare of societies. In a world built on machine intelligence and major technological breakthroughs, the knowledge economy would centre on the lasting well-being of societies where education and innovation flourish, guided by globally aligned values about technology, harmonised laws and progress that widens access to services for the common good. US private AI investment reached $285.9 billion in 2025, nearly 23 times China's $12.4 billion, with AI use at 24.7% of working-age people in the Global North against 14.1% in the Global South. As machine intelligence automates cognitive rather than only routine work, the purpose of the knowledge economy is expected to change. Merging human and machine creativity could revive innovation, but reliance on AI could erode practical skills, leave those without access behind and let algorithmic bias undermine original thinking.