I just posted these Krugman links on the "Persuade An Atheist" thread, where they're tangential. Krugman is quoting and floating ideas about technological advances making workers superfluous in some areas and thereby increasing income inequality. I decided this needed more attention — that is, Krugman says it needs attention ("it's important stuff"!), and presumably he's right.
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/08/rise-of-the-robots
Additional factors or explanations cited:
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/09/technology-or-monopoly-power
More detailed explanation, potential scenarios:
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/10/technology-and-wages-the-analytics-wonkish
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/11/human-versus-physical-capital
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/08/rise-of-the-robots
Additional factors or explanations cited:
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/09/technology-or-monopoly-power
More detailed explanation, potential scenarios:
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/10/technology-and-wages-the-analytics-wonkish
What's happening right now is that we are seeing a significant shift of income away from labor at the same time that we're seeing new technologies that look, on a cursory overview, as if they're capital-biased.Supporting evidence:
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/11/human-versus-physical-capital