A Conversation with Carlota Pérez 

In a wide-ranging and reflective conversation with Amir Lebdioui, renowned scholar Carlota Pérez offers insights drawn from a lifetime spent studying technological change, development, and inequality. The interview explores how societies move through waves of technological transformation, and why moments of disruption — while often accompanied by uncertainty, social tension, and political backlash — also carry the seeds of renewal. Pérez situates today’s challenges within a broader historical arc, linking climate urgency, technological upheaval, and widening inequality as interconnected forces shaping a pivotal moment for global development. 

Rather than viewing technology as an autonomous driver, Pérez emphasises the role of institutions, policy choices, and social coalitions in shaping outcomes. She argues that innovation can either deepen inequality or underpin a new “golden age,” depending on how prosperity is defined and how business, government, and society collaborate. The conversation touches on the responsibilities of the state, the importance of aligning innovation with social purpose, and the need to rethink growth models that prioritise short-term gains over long-term societal well-being. As a member of TIDE’s Advisory Board, Pérez’s thinking continues to influence the Centre’s approach to development, industrial policy, and inclusive innovation, making this dialogue both timely and foundational. 

Read interview here: A Conversation with Carlota Perez: A Life of Revolutions – Lebdioui – 2025 – Development and Change – Wiley Online Library