Ben Armstrong

Ben Armstrong is the Executive Director and Research Scientist at MIT’s Industrial Performance Center (IPC), where he co-leads the Work of the Future initiative. His research focuses on how workers, firms, and regions adapt to technological change, including generative AI’s impact on jobs and strategies for manufacturing competitiveness. Previously, he was a Research Fellow and Postdoctoral Research Associate at Brown University, studying automation perceptions and teaching courses on technology, policy, and capitalism. He holds a PhD in Political Science from MIT and a Bachelor’s from Northwestern University.

His research explores regional economic transformation, notably analyzing Pittsburgh’s post-industrial revival through strategic infrastructure and university partnerships, contrasting it with Cleveland’s less successful initiatives. Key publications include The Puzzle of the Missing Robots (2022), examining manufacturing technology adoption, and Unraveling the Silicon Valley Consensus (2016), challenging startup-centric economic policies. He has advised state governments on innovation strategies and co-developed programs like Brown’s Innovation Economy initiative.

Armstrong’s work bridges academia and practice, emphasizing policy frameworks that integrate workforce development, infrastructure, and industry collaboration. His awards include MIT’s Lucian Pye Award for his doctoral dissertation on political economy.