By FERNANDO NOGUEIRA DA COSTA*
The phenomena of disruptive innovations have redesigned the way of life in contemporary society
Urbanization is one of the most transformative phenomena of recent centuries, accelerating in recent decades. Mass migration to urban areas has drastically changed social, economic and environmental organization.
Cities have become centers of innovation, culture, and economics, but they have also encountered inequality, pollution, and overpopulation. Urbanization has changed the way people live, work and interact, creating new social and economic dynamics.
The demographic census carried out in Brazil in 1970 recorded 93 million inhabitants. “Brazil forward, 70 million in action” was sung as the anthem of that year’s World Cup (third world championship), based on the 1960 Census. In 1970, it was found that the urban population had surpassed the rural population – in China It was in 2010 and rural India still predominates. In the 1940 Census, with 41 million inhabitants, only 31% were urban. The total population at the end of the 170th century was XNUMX million.
“Children, I saw it!”. Created in the 1960s, the contraceptive pill has had a profound effect on society, especially in terms of women's rights and freedom. It allowed fertility control, contributing to women's autonomy in relation to their careers and education. It was a catalyst for the feminist movement. The pill had economic and demographic implications by influencing birth rates and family patterns.
The demographic dividend occurs when the population of working age is larger than the dependent population (young and elderly). With the end of the demographic bonus, roughly in 2020, many societies face an aging population, demonstrating the lack of sustainability of pension systems, based on the distribution system, because the young active generation decreases in relation to the older generation. baby boomer already elderly and inactive.
There are changes in the job market and the need for policies to deal with aging. This phenomenon is changing the economic and social structure, requiring new approaches to sustainable development.
Increases in human longevity, due to advances in Medicine (but still without dementia treatment), nutrition and quality of life, are transforming society. Increased life expectancy is changing the age structure of the population, creating challenges and opportunities in areas such as health, retirement and urban planning. It changes perceptions about the life cycle, with implications for careers, education and even family dynamics.
These phenomena of disruptive innovations have redesigned the way of life in contemporary society. They influence everything from urban organization to significant changes in markets and social interactions.
For example, while the contraceptive pill and greater longevity redefined social relationships and the human life cycle, urbanization and Airbnb changed the structure of cities and tourism. Airbnb revolutionized the accommodation and travel industry by introducing the concept of the sharing economy.
It allowed individuals to rent their properties directly to consumers, facing the expensive model of hotels and inns. This democratized access to tourism, changed real estate dynamics in many tourist cities and provoked regulation on impacts on local communities, such as “gentrification”.
Over the last fifty years, several technological and disruptive innovations in the world of work have contributed to a significant transformation of the traditional structure of what was previously called the proletariat because of the size of its offspring (children), changing the way people earn and accumulate money. These innovations are driving the transition to new forms of work and wealth accumulation, adapted to a longer life and often less tied to traditional factory or factory floor employment.
Automation and robotics have replaced many roles previously performed by operational and manufacturing workers. Smart machines and robots now perform repetitive, dangerous or complex tasks more efficiently, reducing the demand for manual labor. This boosted the transition of workers from the industrial sector to the service sector, whether in new, more qualified occupations or in sub-occupations.
Automation has also created opportunities for investment in technology and innovation, allowing income generation through intellectual property, patents, and startups of technology. Wealth is accumulated through “financialization”.
The rise of the digital economy, including platforms like Uber, Airbnb, Upwork, and others, has fundamentally changed the way work is performed and paid. The call gig economy (short for giant) allows individuals to work independently, offering on-demand services outside of traditional formal employment contracts.
This alternative economy of the digital era favors the provision of temporary or short-term work for various companies. Thus, the gig economy It covers workers who decide to leave the stable office environment to pursue their own careers.
A gig economy it provides flexibility and new ways of making money, but it also introduces precariousness and the absence of traditional benefits. But for many, it offers an alternative to traditional wage work, with the potential for capital accumulation through multiple sources of income.
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of teleworking (or home office), permanently changing the way many jobs are performed. Remote work has eliminated the need for physical presence in specific workplaces, increasing flexibility and allowing people to work from anywhere in the world.
This has allowed many professionals to accumulate financial wealth through savings in time and costs associated with commuting. They seek opportunities in global markets, often with better remuneration.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning are transforming industries by automating cognitive and analytical tasks previously performed by skilled workers. It replaces the roles of both blue-collar and knowledge workers, while creating occupations in areas such as data science, AI development and software engineering. from software.
Professionals qualified in Artificial Intelligence and IT when working in large industries or developing disruptive technological solutions earn income for financial enrichment. They make retirement savings on their own.
The proliferation of online education and skills platforms, such as Coursera, edX, and Khan Academy, has democratized access to high-quality education, allowing workers to acquire new skills and change careers more easily with continuing education. It facilitates the transition to more qualified and profitable occupations, in addition to encouraging lifelong learning.
The ownership and trading of cryptocurrencies, via technology blockchain, deceive with alternative ways of accumulating wealth independently of the traditional banking system and salaried work. Speculators seek to accumulate wealth through investments in digital assets, cryptocurrency mining and decentralized applications (dApps).
Crowdfunding Platforms (through crowdfunding) offer the opportunity for entrepreneurs to finance their innovative projects without depending on traditional investors or bank loans. In theory, it “democratized” access to capital for new businesses and creative projects.
The digitalization of the financial system and the emergence of new forms of investment, such as cryptocurrencies, fintechs and automated investment platforms (robo-advisors), allowed greater access to financial markets. People seek to accumulate wealth through diversified investments.
These technological and disruptive innovations are creating a scenario where the traditional model of salaried work is transforming. New ways of earning and accumulating money are more linked to flexibility, digitalization and the use of advanced technologies. It allows people to have greater control (and flexibility) over their professional career trajectories, expanding opportunities for accumulating financial wealth and adapting to a longer life, demanding greater professional financial planning.
*Fernando Nogueira da Costa He is a full professor at the Institute of Economics at Unicamp. Author, among other books, of Brazil of banks (EDUSP). [https://amzn.to/4dvKtBb]
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