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Examines the economic growth of the United States since the Civil War, arguing that the rate of growth between 1870 and 1970 cannot be repeated and that a number of issues are further stagnating the already slow rate of productivity growth."In the century after the Civil War, an economic revolution improved the American standard of living in ways previously unimaginable. Electric lighting, indoor plumbing, home appliances, motor vehicles, air travel, air conditioning, and television transformed households and workplaces. With medical advances, life expectancy between 1870 and 1970 grew from forty-five to seventy-two years. Weaving together a vivid narrative, historical anecdotes, and economic analysis, The Rise and Fall of American Growth provides an in-depth account of this momentous era. But has that era of unprecedented growth come to an end? Gordon challenges the view that economic growth can or will continue unabated, and he demonstrates that the life-altering scale of innovations between 1870 and 1970 can't be repeated. He contends that the nation's productivity growth, which has already slowed to a crawl, will be further held back by the vexing headwinds of rising inequality, stagnating education, an aging population, and the rising debt of college students and the federal government. Gordon warns that the younger generation may be the first in American history that fails to exceed their parents' standard of living, and that rather than depend on the great advances of the past, we must find new solutions to overcome the challenges facing us. A critical voice in the debates over economic stagnation, The Rise and Fall of American Growth is at once a tribute to a century of radical change and a harbinger of tougher times to come."--Publisher's description.… (more)
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"The Rise and Fall of American Growth" is an exhaustive work, and gains much of its strength from the sheer weight of argument and example it provides. But to try to summarize, between 1870 and 1970 US technological progress and economic growth exploded. That changed almost everything about the way people lived, worked, and interacted with one another. Since 1970 and especially since 2000, growth has slowed even though technological progress has continued. Many assume that technology will once again push growth rates higher, but Professor Gordon argues that the miracle century was a one time process that cannot be repeated. He first shows how technological change -- reinforced by economic reorganization, both public and private -- changed every aspect of life between 1870 and 1940. Then, he considers the 1940-1970 period, when growth remained high even though people's lives changed far less drastically. And then he considers 1970 to date, during which overall growth has slowed sharply, reflecting a sharp drop in productivity growth. That's despite what he terms the Third Industrial Revolution -- the computer and communications revolution. The First and Second Revolutions affected almost every aspect of life, he argues, but the Third affects the relatively narrow sphere of communication. Because of a smaller share of the economy is involved in the Third Revolution, its impact on overall productivity growth -- and hence on economic growth -- is far smaller.
To make matters worse, Professor Gordon cites a number of headwinds that will make any lasting recovery in growth rates even harder to achieve. The most critical of these is rising inequality, which by some measures has left the real incomes of the middle class unchanged for forty years. That reflects (and feeds into) a worsening US performance in education, rising government debt, and excessive regulation. Then, there is the demographic problem -- labor force growth is slowing as the boomers retire, and the "dependency ratio" -- the number of non-working people relative to the number of workers -- is rising. Finally, Professor Gordon briefly notes climate change. He ends with a series of policy prescriptions, centered in large part around more (and earlier) education and around redistribution via tax changes. The policy prescriptions don't feel very convincing given the weight of the problem the professor describes.
Clearly, Professor Gordon puts a lot less weight on technology than do many other economists. There is no way of knowing in advance whether or not he is right, and some vociferously disagree. Still, this book is a strong antidote to any tendency to wave one's hand and say "oh, technology will take care of it". It's also an interesting and compelling, if at times daunting, read.
Robert Gordon argues that the new technologies in information and communications don't pack the same economic punch
What concerns me the most is the implications for public policy. This book asks an important question: Is the disappointing rate of growth in the US since the financial crisis a temporary effect that will be cured by technology, or is it a long run situation to which we will have to adjust, politically as well as economically? Professor Robert Gordon argues that the problem is long term. And that's a hard message for any politician to give. So, how can our policies reflect the new reality if we can't admit to what that reality is? Maybe his pessimism is warranted after all.
Whether you are optimistic or pessimistic about the way technology will continue to change our economic lives, this book provides a truly extraordinary economic history and plenty of food for thought about what it means for the future.