Stanford University professor Michael Spence said the article published by TechCrunch on Wednesday has drawn unexpected attention to his book The Next Economy. The book, assigned to freshmen in the university’s introductory economics course, examines how technology reshapes global power structures. Spence told reporters that enrollment in his course has risen by 12% since the article appeared.
TechCrunch’s report described how freshmen in Stanford’s Introduction to Economic Policy course now treat the book as a blueprint for influence. The article quoted several students who said they now see economic policy as a tool to shape future governance. One student, Emma Carter, said she changed her major to economics after reading the book and the TechCrunch piece.
Spence clarified that the book has been part of the syllabus for three years. He noted that the surge in interest follows a pattern seen with other assigned readings, though none have drawn national media attention before. The book’s publisher, Harvard Business Review Press, confirmed sales of the title rose by 34% in the week after the article ran.
The article’s author, Taylor Hatmaker, said the response shows how a single media mention can amplify academic trends. Hatmaker told NPR that she did not expect the story to gain such traction. She added that Stanford’s administration has not commented on whether the course will be adjusted in response to the increased enrollment.
Spence said he welcomes the new interest but cautioned that the book’s ideas are not new. He emphasized that the course’s goal remains teaching analytical skills, not promoting any particular worldview.
Source: techcrunch.com