CAGE Economics Podcast
Series 1: The Great Divergence and the making of the modern world
Why did Western Europe become the richest region of the early modern world? Was the rise of the West powered by colonisation, inventions, or something else entirely? And what happened to the medieval might of China and India?
This podcast series searches for explanations to why Western Europe and North America emerged as the most affluent and technologically advanced regions of the modern world.
We talk to leading experts in the field about their theories of why this happened to get some insights into how what is known as the "Great Divergence" has an impact on world events today.
The topic is approached with balance and breadth, exploring everything from colonialism and fossil fuels to science, technology and parliamentary politics.
This series consists of five podcast episodes of 45-60 minutes each along with written summaries, graphs, links, and other useful resources for anyone interested in finding out more on the topics.
Episodes
Why the West? Colonies, fossil fuels, and lessons from China
Kenneth Pomeranz
- Listen (55 min): Spotify | Apple
- Read (15 min): Article and bibliography
Did science and enlightenment give Europe the edge?
Joel Mokyr
“The Industrial Revolution happened after the Scientific Revolution, and that is probably not a coincidence.” In this episode Joel Mokyr, 2025 Nobel laureate in economic sciences, explores the many surprising ways science contributed to Europe’s economic rise. And it wasn’t just science. Europe’s culture was going through a broader change, with less emphasis on venerating the ancients and more desire to solve practical problems.
- Listen (50 min): Spotify | Apple
- Read (12 min): Article and bibliography
Why did the Industrial Revolution happen in Britain?
Robert Allen
Why was the steam engine invented in Britain and not other parts of Europe? Oxford professor Robert Allen has worked for decades trying to understand the origins of the Industrial Revolution in the 1700s. In this episode he discusses the two key dynamics that shaped the British economy at the time - cheap fossil fuels and high wages.
- Listen (59 min): Spotify | Apple
- Read (18 min): Article and bibliography
A view from the East? China, Japan, and paths to prosperity
Debin Ma
The tech gap between China and the West is closing fast. But why did the land that invented paper and gunpowder fall behind? Debin Ma is the world’s leading economic historian of East Asia. In this episode he approaches the making of modernity from an eastern perspective, discussing why China fell behind, why Japan modernised early, and why East Asia has experienced so many economic miracles.
- Listen (45 min): Spotify | Apple
- Read (13 min): Article and bibliography
The big picture: Measuring the origins of the modern world
Bishnupriya Gupta and Stephen Broadberry
For over 20 years Stephen Broadberry and Bishnupriya Gupta have worked to measure the evolution of global living standards from the medieval period onwards. In this episode, they discuss their work on the impact of British colonialism on India and continue the broader story of living standards of the pre-industrial world.
- Listen (50 min): Spotify | Apple
- Read (15 min): Article and bibliography
The Great Divergence podcast series is produced by the CAGE Research Centre in collaboration with the On Humans Podcast.