The age of the platform nation: Since the First Industrial Revolution, growth and welfare have depended upon increasing the efficiency of production.

The First Industrial Revolution began in England in the late 18th century, following in the wake of James Watt and his steam engine. (A Second Industrial Revolution would occur late in the 19th century and involve the development of the steel industry and giant corporations.)

The launch of corporations, specialization, manufacturing, electricity, and the computer all increased productivity, GDP – and thereby wages and national welfare.

Higher wages spur the consumption of more goods and services, but also bigger national budgets through tax collection. A virtuous circle of prosperity was created.

Some citizens gained more than others, creating persistent inter-generational inequality; but, in absolute terms, economic means were enhanced across all major population segments.

Many now see this relationship – between productive efficiency and economic growth and wages – breaking down in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).

See Andrew Yang.

Digital technology, automated software, and artificial intelligence is creating digital societies; mass services are replacing mass manufacturing as the source of welfare and productivity enhancement, and shared assets are supplanting exclusive asset ownership.

The three-century reign of the manufacturing nation is beginning to close.

Welcome to the age of the platform nations.

While some nations will continue to try to compete at a physical level, we are entering a new phase of globalization, where digital technologies are changing the nature of commerce and prosperity.

Protecting the past for nostalgia and votes may be a sound policy on the campaign trail, but makes little sense for long-term economic security and success.

SCOTUS overturns ruling in Michigan gerrymandering case - What it means: The US Supreme Court officially overturned a ruling which had called for nearly three dozen congressional and legislative districts in Michigan to be redrawn because they were deemed to unfairly help one political party - the GOP.

The decision had been widely expected since the Supreme Court decided in June that it would allow state courts to decide questions about political boundary lines rather than ruling on them itself.

"Partisan gerrymandering claims present political questions beyond the reach of the federal courts," Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in that decision involving cases brought regarding political boundary lines drawn in Maryland and North Carolina.

The Supreme Court decision in the Maryland and North Carolina cases — which both parties complained of gerrymandering, which is the practice of drawing district lines in such a way as to help one political party or another — effectively ensured that the Michigan decision would be vacated, however.

Because of the Supreme Court’s Monday ruling in favor of the GOP, districts will not be redrawn until 2022, when a bipartisan redistricting commission resulting from a state referendum last fall will assume the task of redrawing the boundaries.

Brexit breakthrough today? UK PM Boris Johnson hopes to secure a big breakthrough today in his battle to deliver Brexit on October 31, as he tries to move legislation through the House of Commons to enact his EU exit deal in just three days.

Downing Street believes Johnson is on course to secure a narrow victory when MPs vote on his Withdrawal Agreement bill, although the backlash was furious over his attempt to railroad the whole legislation process through parliament with extremely limited scrutiny.

Media analysis of MPs’ positions suggests Johnson could scrape home by 320 to 315 when the Commons votes on the “in principle” second reading of the bill — the first time MPs would have backed any Brexit deal.

So to get to the magic 320 for a majority of one Johnson needs only win over the Tories (and ex-Tory). Which is probably just as well, as Labour will most certainly go all out to complicate matters.

Per Matt Chorley, "It's a shit choice," one wavering MP texts. "But we have failed to construct a better one. My pleas to friends to show me a credible strategy to delivering second referendum are not producing anything convincing."

Confidence was also growing in Number 10 last night that Johnson could head off attempts by opposition MPs to attach a second “confirmatory” referendum to a Brexit deal and a separate amendment to keep Britain in a customs union with the EU.

-Marc

Marc A. Ross is a globalization strategist and communications advisor. Ross specializes in helping global business leaders make better connections and better communications. He is the founder of Caracal Communications.