MIT Stone Center on Inequality and Shaping the Future of Work

The US tax system is biased against workers in favor of machines and algorithms, and has become more so in recent years. Our latest Substack post unpacks research from @dacemoglumit.bsky.social and co-authors: mitstonecenter.substack.com/p/how-the-us...

How will AI affect workers in lower-income countries? Co-director @simonhrjohnson.bsky.social explains why he is concerned about widespread factory automation.

We asked co-director Simon Johnson how things have changed since his book "Power and Progress" (co-authored with @dacemoglumit.bsky.social) came out in 2023. Is it too late to redirect the path of AI? Watch the full AMA video with @simonhrjohnson.bsky.social: www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgMb...

The first China Shock cost many jobs. On ABC News Daily, @davidautor.bsky.social argues that China Shock 2.0 will target critical sectors and prove even worse than the first. www.youtube.com/watch?v=OToQ...

Simon Johnson (@simonhrjohnson.bsky.social) and David Lin discuss the biggest risks facing the economy, including job loss due to automation and inflation. www.youtube.com/watch?v=H99B...

The Stone Center will be recording an “ask me anything” video with co-director @simonhrjohnson.bsky.social, and we want to hear from you. Post your question for Simon in the comments below, or email shapingwork@mitblueprintlabs.org by September 9th with the subject line “AMA”.

The Power and Consequences podcast with @simonhrjohnson.bsky.social and Gary Gensler now includes video! Subscribe on YouTube to stay up to date with the latest episodes. www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-8-...

Co-director @davidautor.bsky.social was named to @TIME's 2026 #TIME100AI list, which recognizes the 100 most influential people in artificial intelligence. time.com/collection/t...

New research from @dacemoglumit.bsky.social, @davidautor.bsky.social and co-authors finds that lower birth rates have not slowed economic growth over the past 70 years, and in fact have increased productivity per worker. Read more on Substack: mitstonecenter.substack.com/p/why-fallin...

My new book #WhatHappenedToLiberalDemocracy is out on August 11. Here is a brief message about my motivation for writing this book and its central thesis. Pre-order links are available here: shapingwork.mit.edu/what-happene.... I hope you will join me in the discussion.

The Stone Center is #hiring Predoctoral Researchers at MIT! Predocs will work with @dacemoglumit.bsky.social, @davidautorbsky.social, and/or @simonhrjohnson.bsky.social to support research on inequality, technology, and labor. Learn more and apply by 8/2: shapingwork.mit.edu/careers/jame...

Will AI replace workers en masse? @simonhrjohnson.bsky.social argues that it doesn't have to — but we must fill a critical gap in AI development and investment today. AI companies and business leaders are heavily focused on replacing workers, rather than increasing the demand for human skills.

Whose work most influenced you? Institute Professor of Economics at MIT and Nobel Prize winner, Daron Acemoglu, answers this question on a special episode of the Social Science Bites podcast. Hear from today’s leading social and behavioral scientists: www.socialsciencespace.com/2026/04/whos...

When companies rush to automate work, are they missing out on an opportunity to gain a competitive advantage? A more transformative use of AI could be expanding the capabilities of their human workforce. mitsloan.mit.edu/ideas-made-t...

How could public policy facilitate pro-worker AI? Co-director @davidautor.bsky.social explains how the government could shape AI adoption in the healthcare and education sectors to complement workers.

Our Policy and Research Manager Julia Regier was interviewed on the Inclusion Geeks podcast, discussing the latest research on wage inequality for non-college workers, the pitfalls of “so-so automation,” and what it would take to achieve pro-worker AI. www.inclusiongeeks.com/podcasts/ai-...

Why isn't the market pursuing pro-worker AI? Co-director @dacemoglumit.bsky.social explains that the reasons are both economic and ideological.

My @projectsyndicate.bsky.social #InsiderInterview with Philippe Aghion is now freely available here: www.project-syndicate.org/onpoint/euro... We discuss creative destruction and competition, reviving European dynamism, China, AI, and more

🎉 We congratulate co-director @simonhrjohnson.bsky.social for being named chair of the UK's AI Economics Institute. Under his leadership, the Institute will build the data infrastructure to assess AI's economic impacts and inform policymakers. www.gov.uk/government/p...

📅 Apply for our postdoc opening by June 15! @dacemoglumit.bsky.social and @simonhrjohnson.bsky.social are recruiting a Postdoctoral Associate at MIT to research the history, social implications, and future of technology. Learn more and apply here: shapingwork.mit.edu/careers/jame...

New technologies do not automatically benefit workers, even when they increase total productivity. The British economy boomed in the early Industrial Revolution, but workers did not reap the benefits. Read more on our Substack, The Work Ahead: mitstonecenter.substack.com/p/what-can-t...

Can AI be expected to behave "responsibly"? On the Power and Consequences podcast, @simonhrjohnson.bsky.social and Gary Gensler discuss the evolving meaning of "responsible AI" and whether policy can promote both innovation and the public good. www.powerandconsequences.com/p/episode-13...

In this podcast episode, @simonhrjohnson.bsky.social and Gary Gensler discuss the Chinese economy. What should we expect from President Trump's talks with President Xi later this week? Who will be the world’s most influential country in the years ahead? www.powerandconsequences.com/p/episode-11...

On Wed 5/13 from 12-1 PM EST, @simonhrjohnson.bsky.social and other MIT scholars will discuss the new book, "Priority Technologies: Ensuring US Security and Shared Prosperity" at the American Enterprise Institute, moderated by @michaelrstrain.bsky.social. Register: www.aei.org/events/prior...

We're hiring a postdoc at MIT! The Postdoctoral Associate will work closely with @dacemoglumit.bsky.social and @simonhrjohnson.bsky.social to conduct research on the history, social implications and future of technology. Learn more and apply by June 15: shapingwork.mit.edu/careers/jame...

How will AI affect workers with and without a college degree? Co-director @simonhrjohnson.bsky.social explains how AI could change the dynamics of the college wage premium.

The new book "Priority Technologies," with a foreword by co-director @simonhrjohnson.bsky.social, dives deep into six sectors where advances in technology can support national security and create good jobs. news.mit.edu/2026/how-to-...

📢 We're on Substack! Subscribe to our newsletter, The Work Ahead. The first post explores recent research from @davidautor.bsky.social & co-authors on what makes new work different from more work — and why new work is a key force offsetting the effects of automation. mitstonecenter.substack.com

Why don't the wealthy pay more taxes? In the latest episode of their podcast "Power and Consequences," co-director @simonhrjohnson.bsky.social & former SEC chair Gary Gensler discuss the history of the US tax system & its implications today. www.powerandconsequences.com/p/episode-ei...

Last week, the Stone Center & MIT Sloan welcomed Deputy Prime Minister of Spain @carloscuerpo.bsky.social to MIT for a fireside chat with @dacemoglumit.bsky.social. They discussed Europe's financial & energy policy, the implications of global wars, AI & more. Watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWIf...

What does a pro-worker application of AI look like in practice? Co-director @davidautor.bsky.social describes the Electrician's Assistant tool developed by Schneider Electric. The AI provides real-time field support to electricians and electrical engineers, making their expertise more effective.

The IMF recently revised its global growth projections downward, expecting the Iran war to slow the global economy and raise inflation. Co-director @simonhrjohnson.bsky.social discussed these predictions on @npr.org. www.npr.org/2026/04/15/n...

On the latest episode of their podcast, co-director @simonhrjohnson.bsky.social & Gary Gensler discuss AI: whether we're in a boom or a bubble, what history can teach us about how AI will impact jobs, and how US policymakers should respond. Listen here: www.powerandconsequences.com/p/episode-se...

On Wednesday 4/15 from 12-1 PM ET, join the Stone Center and MIT Sloan for a fireside chat with @carloscuerpo.bsky.social, Spain's first Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Trade and Business, and co-director @dacemoglumit.bsky.social. Watch the livestream: web.mit.edu/webcast/mits...

What is the definition of "pro-worker AI"? Co-director @dacemoglumit.bsky.social explains: pro-worker AI creates new, complementary tasks for workers to do, rather than purely automating tasks.