Technology and economy have brought about immense social changes, especially in the modern period. Technology affects society in various ways—it helps us to resist, control, adapt to, or harness nature. The Industrial Revolution is the most famous instance of massive and immediately visible social change brought about by technological change.

Changes can be identified by their nature or impact, mainly structural change and changes in ideas, values, and beliefs. Structural change refers to transformations in the structure of society, its institutions, or the rules by which these institutions are run. For example, the emergence of paper money as currency marked a major change in the organization of financial markets and transactions.

Changes in economic organization that are not directly technological can also change society. Plantation agriculture created a heavy demand for labour, which helped establish the institution of slavery and the slave trade. In India, tea plantations in Assam involved forced migration of labour from Adivasi areas of Eastern India.

International agreements and institutions like the World Trade Organisation can lead to changes in customs duties, causing entire industries to be wiped out or experience sudden booms. Similarly, changes in agricultural technology, such as new labour-saving machinery or cropping patterns, can alter labour demand and change bargaining power in rural society.