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The Fourth Great Awakening Robert talks to Robert William Fogel -- winner of the 1993 Nobel Prize in Economics -- about his book The Fourth Great Awakening: and the Future of Egalitarianism. In the book, Fogel analyzes the cycles of technological, political, and religious change in the U.S. He says the cycles start in reaction to technological change, which historically has changed the economic landscape, and then threatened the dominant culture. He points to the "First Great Awakening" which took place during the industrial revolution in 1730, which laid groundwork for the American Revolution. The second was associated with Abolition, and the third was associated with the New Deal. This current awakening period started in the 1960's. Fogel is a professor at the University of Chicago, where he is also director of the Center for Population Economics.

All Things Considered

The Fourth Great Awakening

Heard on All Things Considered

The Fourth Great Awakening

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Robert talks to Robert William Fogel — winner of the 1993 Nobel Prize in Economics — about his book The Fourth Great Awakening: and the Future of Egalitarianism. In the book, Fogel analyzes the cycles of technological, political, and religious change in the U.S. He says the cycles start in reaction to technological change, which historically has changed the economic landscape, and then threatened the dominant culture. He points to the "First Great Awakening" which took place during the industrial revolution in 1730, which laid groundwork for the American Revolution. The second was associated with Abolition, and the third was associated with the New Deal. This current awakening period started in the 1960's. Fogel is a professor at the University of Chicago, where he is also director of the Center for Population Economics.