Minor Project 1 – Information Technology Advancement and Economic Inequality

Requirement 1: Analyze and consider the trends discussed in Chapter 4 of Richards. Has the development of Information Technology caused the gap between rich and poor to widen? Given your view is the trend likely to continue or change?

Requirement 2: Note that according to Barron’s 2017 list of the world’s twenty wealthiest people, 7 are technology executives (Bill Gates #1, Jeff Bezos #3, Mark Zuckerberg #5, Larry Ellison #7, Michael Bloomberg #10, Sergey Brin and Larry Paige tied at #12). Further, three of the top five are well-known technology pioneers. These wealthy individuals have value systems and worldviews that inform how they lead their companies and attempt to influence society. Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg gave commencement speeches that dealt in part with economic inequality. Compare and contrast their views and ideas, with your view of biblical teaching on the topic of inequality.

Requirement 3: Is economic inequality a new issue, now more acute, or is it as Solomon might say, not new under the sun (Eccl 1:9)?

Resources: The three primary resources for this project are:

1. Richards (Money, Greed and God), particularly pages 83-110.
2. New Living Bible (or other modern translation).
3. Commencement speeches of Bill Gates (Harvard 2007), Mark Zuckerberg (Harvard 2017):
   1. http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/05/mark-zuckerbergs-speech-as-written-for-harvards-class-of-2017/
   2. http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2007/06/remarks-of-bill-gates-harvard-commencement-2007/

Please include additional references as you see fit.

Submissions should be between 1000 and 1200 words, plus references.