Twentieth-Century Technological Change

Mowery, David C.; Rosenberg, Nathan; Engerman, Stanley L.; Gallman, Robert E.

doi:10.1017/chol9780521553087.015

Cited by 48 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Moreover, at a less aggregate level, the chronological pattern of technological advance differs across subgroups. Both these features have been noted in the extensive literature on technical change (see, e.g., Mensch 1979; David and Wright 2003; Mowery and Rosenberg 2000; Kleinknecht 1987). The question posed in this subsection is what do our new indicators tell us about these waves of innovation?…”

Section: The Evidencementioning

confidence: 72%

Volumes of evidence: examining technical change in the last century through a new lens

Alexopoulos

Cohen

2011

Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue Canadienne d'Économique

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New indicators of technical change based on titles included in the catalogue of the Library of Congress and on Amazon.com's website are presented along with evidence that they do capture technological innovation. The indicators are used to chart the pattern and nature of technical change over the last century. A strong, causal relationship is found to exist between these indicators and changes in TFP and output per capita. Moreover, innovations in some subgroups have had a greater impact on output and productivity than in others and the key players change over time. Information technologies are currently the dominant subgroup. JEL classificatiion: E32, O3, O4, N1Examiner le changement technique au cours du dernier siècleà travers une nouvelle lentille. On présente de nouveaux indicateurs de changement technique basés sur les titres inclus dans le catalogue de la Bibliothèque du Congrès et sur le site de Amazon.com, ainsi que des résultats qui indiquent qu'ils saisissent l'innovation technologique. Les indicateurs sont utilisés pour cartographier le pattern et la nature du changement technique au cours du dernier siècle. On trouve qu'il existe une relation causale forte entre ces indicateurs et les changements dans la productivité totale des facteurs et le produit per capita. De plus, des innovations dans certains sous-groupes ont eu un impact plus grand que d'autres sur la production et la productivité, et les joueurs clés ont changé avec le temps. Les technologies de l'information sont pour le moment le sous-groupe dominant.We would like to acknowledge helpful comments from two anonymous referees, Alice

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Section: The Evidencementioning

confidence: 72%

Volumes of evidence: examining technical change in the last century through a new lens

Alexopoulos

Cohen

2011

Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue Canadienne d'Économique

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“…As has been noted, there is a general and persistent downward trend in TFP growth within manufacturing from its peak during the 1920s. Some of the retardation, which is already evident in the last years of the golden age and continued during the 1973-1989 period, may be associated with the slowdown in non defense R and D spending that is apparent starting in the 1960s and continuing in the 1970s (see Mowery and Rosenberg 2000). But whatever its causes, only a small fraction of the slowdown in the economy as a whole after 1973 can be attributed directly to productivity slowdown within manufacturing.…”

Section: The End Of the Golden Agementioning

confidence: 99%

The origins of US total factor productivity growth in the golden age

Field

2007

Cliometrica

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A consideration of TFP growth in the United States during the golden age raises two related questions: on the one hand why was it so strong and on the other hand, why were TFP growth rates lower than they were during the Depression years (1929)(1930)(1931)(1932)(1933)(1934)(1935)(1936)(1937)(1938)(1939)(1940)(1941)? A continuing downward trend in TFP growth within manufacturing, and its declining share after World War II, provide answers to the latter question. A persisting productivity windfall associated with the build out of the surface road infrastructure helps answer the former question. By adopting a longer historical perspective, we can move beyond understanding the golden age sui generis, and begin to see it instead as a period reflecting the persistence of trends and developments whose origins are to be found prior to the Second World War.

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“…38 38 Mowery and Rosenberg, ‘Twentieth century’, p. 814; Schmookler, Invention ; Mensch, Stalemate . …”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of the Second World War on US productivity growth¹

Field

2008

The Economic History Review

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This paper considers the productivity impact on the US economy of the period of war mobilization and demobilization lasting from 1941 to 1948. Optimists have pointed to learning by doing in military production and spin‐offs from military R & D as the basis for asserting a substantial positive effect of military conflict on potential output. Productivity data for the private non‐farm economy are not consistent with this view, as they show slower total factor productivity (TFP) growth between 1941 and 1948 than before or after. The paper argues for adopting a less rosy perspective on the supply side effects of the war.

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Twentieth-Century Technological Change

Cited by 48 publications

References 34 publications

Volumes of evidence: examining technical change in the last century through a new lens

Volumes of evidence: examining technical change in the last century through a new lens

The origins of US total factor productivity growth in the golden age

The impact of the Second World War on US productivity growth¹

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Twentieth-Century Technological Change

Cited by 48 publications

References 34 publications

Volumes of evidence: examining technical change in the last century through a new lens

Volumes of evidence: examining technical change in the last century through a new lens

The origins of US total factor productivity growth in the golden age

The impact of the Second World War on US productivity growth1

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Product

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The impact of the Second World War on US productivity growth¹