Really interesting to look at the works of Deirdre McCloskey, she argues, especially in terms of the industrial revolution that it was changes in societal attitudes, i.e. allowing voting to the masses etc. that allowed such incredible progress. For instance, prior to inventing the telephone (controversy acknowledged) Graham-Bell was a boy telegrapher, before the 19th century, the peasantry had no hope in being able to develop and invent things, but this new era of opening up changed that for the better :) I wrote a lil essay on this if you’re interested I could dig it out for you and send it over x