Growth and Its DiscontentsThe history of capitalism is inseparable from the history of growth. Growth is often celebrated as capitalism’s greatest achievement, yet it has also provoked anxiety. Malthus warned of population pressures, Jevons of coal depletion, while Boserup suggested that scarcity could spur innovation. These debates remind us that growth has always been contested. By contrast, much of modern economics tends to take growth for granted, focusing instead on refining methods and estimating causal effects. This seminar returns growth to the centre of debate, asking how historical reflections on prosperity and limits can help us think about capitalism’s future in an age of climate crisis and inequality. There will be short presentations by a panel of experts bringing varying perspectives:Professor Carl-Johan Dalgaard, University of Copenhagen, https://dors.dk/raad-vismaend/formandskabet/carl-johan-dalgaardProfessor Eoin McLaughlin, Heriot-Watt University, https://www.eoinmclaughlin.ie/Professor Wim Naudé, RWTH Aachen University, https://www.wimnaude.com/Professor Niklas Olsen, University of Copenhagen, https://researchprofiles.ku.dk/da/persons/niklas-olsen This will be followed by a panel debate, chaired by Professor Søren Askegaard, DIAS, SDU.

In contemporary healthcare, everybody seems to want more data, on more people, and use them for ever more purposes. There are many good reasons for such ambitions, and yet it is becoming obvious that the current data intensification generates not just stories of benefit and success, but also complaints about misunderstandings, meaningless work, and unintended consequences. In his book, Data Paradoxes (MIT Pres, 2023), Klaus Hoeyer outlines and describes why we tell such different – almost opposing stories about data, and why very different stories might all be partly true. How can we use such insights productively – not least in an age where also cross-border data integration is high on the political agenda?Klaus Hoeyer is professor of Medical Science and Technology Studies at the Centre for Medical STS, University of Copenhagen. His research focuses on the links between policy, practice and experience in medical research and clinical practice. In recent years, he has focused mainly on the increased emphasis on collection, storage, use, reuse of health data, and how these data practices change the health services. This research is primarily financed by the European Research Council.