The Rise And Fall Of American Growth

The U.S. Standard of Living since the Civil War

Robert J. Gordon

Book Synopsis

"The Rise and Fall of American Growth" by Robert J. Gordon offers a comprehensive analysis of the history, drivers, and consequences of economic growth in the United States. Spanning over a century, Gordon examines the factors behind the remarkable growth experienced during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, followed by a stark decline in recent decades.

Through meticulous research and data-driven insights, Gordon traces the key drivers of American growth, such as the Industrial Revolution, mass production, technological advancements, and widespread innovation. He delves into the profound impact of these developments on various aspects of society, including living standards, productivity, and overall well-being.

Challenging the notion of perpetual progress, Gordon provides a compelling argument for why the United States may have witnessed a slowdown in economic growth since the mid-20th century. He highlights factors such as diminishing returns from technological progress, rising inequality, demographic shifts, and mounting environmental challenges as significant obstacles to sustained growth.

In addition to analyzing the causes of this decline, Gordon also explores its implications for future generations. He discusses the potential consequences of slower growth on income inequality, social mobility, and the overall socio-economic landscape, urging policymakers to consider these challenges when formulating long-term strategies.

"The Rise and Fall of American Growth" is an engrossing and thought-provoking examination of the trajectory of economic growth in the United States. Bringing together historical analysis, economic theory, and social commentary, this book offers a nuanced perspective on the complex forces shaping America's economic future. It serves as a vital resource for academics, economists, policymakers, and anyone interested in understanding the past, present, and potential future of American prosperity.

Explore More Books

See All
Montaigne's Essays
Mission
The World is Flat
The Origins of Virtue
The Politics Industry
Charged
Big World, Small Planet
Parents Who Lead
The Celestine Prophecy
How An Economy Grows and Why It Crashes
The Canceling of the American Mind
Healthy Buildings
The Richest Man in Babylon
Letters from a Stoic
Creating Shareholder Value
Mortal Republic
The Evolution of Beauty
That's What She Said
The Holy Grail of Investing
The Spectator
A Technique for Producing Ideas
1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die
This Brave New World
Talking to Strangers
Execution
The Narrow Corridor
On Grief and Grieving
The Story of Civilization: The Age of Voltaire
Hard Drive
Clear Thinking
Merchants of Truth
Graphs, Maps, Trees
DMT: The Spirit Molecule
Great Expectations
Rock On
Twelve Against The Gods
Concentrated Investing
Thus Spoke the Plant
The Doors of Perception
Maisy Mouse Collection
Diffusion of Innovations
Certain To Win
The Oz Principle
The Romance of American Communism
The Medici Effect
Calm Your Mind with Food
The Model Thinker
The Rise And Fall Of American Growth
If At Birth You Don't Succeed
I Seem To Be A Verb
Order Without Design
The Nature of the Beast
Cashing in on the American Dream
Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage
A Short Guide to a Happy Life
The Essential Scratch and Sniff Guide to Becoming a Wine Expert
Adult Children of Alcoholics
Devil's Bargain
The Essential Writings
I Contain Multitudes
Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention
The Picture of Dorian Gray
How To Shoot Video That Doesn't Suck
Imaginable
The Clash of Civilization and the Remaking of World Order
Too Big to Fail
The Tyranny of Experts
All Marketers are Liars
The Painted Bird
Crash Proof 2.0
American Kingpin
The Big Short
The Halo Effect...
Nixonland
A Curious Mind
The Aspirational Investor
High Output Management
The Fortunes of Africa
Cuckoo
Personal Knowledge
The Visual Display of Quantitative Information
The Robotics Primer
Prepared
The Deficit Myth
Play Bigger
Excession
The Curse of the Mogul
Markings
The Fourth Turning
The Amber Spyglass
Impro
Levels of the Game
The Founders
Dynasty
Courage
Essays and Aphorisms
The Sixth Extinction
Nixon Agonistes
The Innovators
Masters of Doom