ABSTRACT: We develop new aggregate and sectoral Total Factor Productivity (TFP) estimates for the United States between 1899 and 1941 through better coverage of sectors and better-measured labor quality, and find TFP-growth was lower than previously thought, Continue reading “Working Paper: The Sources of Growth in a Technologically Progressive Economy”
The Great Depression is considered one of the darkest times for the US economy, but some argue that the US economy experienced strong productivity growth over the period. This column reassesses this performance using improved Continue reading “Column: Onwards and Upwards”
ABSTRACT: We develop new aggregate and sectoral Total Factor Productivity (TFP) estimates for the United States between 1899 and 1941 through better coverage of sectors and better measured labor quality, and show TFP-growth was lower than previously thought, broadly based across sectors Continue reading “Working Paper: A Vision of the Growth Process in a Technologically Progressive Economy”
ABSTRACT: A recent study in American economic history has shown that the 1930s, though scarred by relentless unemployment, mass migration and profound social and cultural change, were far from gloomy in terms of technological and business innovation. In light of these dynamic productivity developments Continue reading “Dissertation: The Roaring Thirties”
De crisis die de wereldeconomie in 2008 trof stond op gelijke voet met datgene wat de Grote Depressie van de jaren dertig inleidde. In de 12 maanden na de economische piek van 2008 daalde de industriële productie net zoveel als gedurende het eerste jaar van de Grote Depressie. De aandelenkoersen en de wereldhandel daalden zelfs meer. Toch lijkt het erop dat een echte depressie deze keer is vermeden. Continue reading “Column: The Roaring Thirties [dutch]”
ABSTRACT: During the interwar period the manufacturing productivity gap between the US and the UK became much larger than existing estimates suggest. In this article a new comparison of US/UK productivity levels for 1935 is presented, utilizing a more rigorous Continue reading “Article: Depression Dynamics”
Pieter (Jop) WOLTJER 