Full Citation

Title: The Sources of Growth in a Technologically Progressive Economy: The United States, 1899–1941

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2019

ISBN:

ISSN: 0013-0133

DOI: 10.1093/ej/uez002

NSFID:

PMCID:

PMID:

Abstract: We develop new aggregate total factor productivity (TFP) growth estimates for the USA between 1899 and 1941, and sectoral estimates at the most disaggregated level so far, 38 industries. We include hard-to-measure services, and a refined measure of sectoral labour quality growth. The resulting data set supersedes Kendrick (1961), showing TFP growth lower than previously thought, broadly based across industries, and strongly variant intertemporally. The four ‘great inventions’ that Gordon (2016) highlighted were important but less dominant in TFP growth than their predecessors in the British industrial revolution. The findings also make it unlikely the 1930s had the twentieth century's highest TFP growth.

Url: https://academic.oup.com/ej/article/129/622/2267/5426207

User Submitted?: Yes

Authors: Bakker, Gerben; Crafts, Nicholas; Woltjer, Pieter

Periodical (Full): The Economic Journal

Issue: 622

Volume: 129

Pages: 2267-2294

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Education, Gender, Labor Force and Occupational Structure, Race and Ethnicity

Countries: