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
Capital In The 21st Century
Scientific Freedom
The Age of the Unthinkable
Modernity Without Restraint
Feeding the Dragon
Who Says Elephants Can’t Dance?
Frisco Kid
The Plant Paradox
The New Economics
The Warren Buffett Way
Live Free or Die
What School Could Be
With the Old Breed
The Greedy Bastard Diary
Werner Herzog - A Guide for the Perplexed
An Apology for the Builder
The Razor's Edge
The Little Prince
Life on the Edge
Foundation
The First Crash
Programming Bitcoin
Kant and the Platypus
Masters of the Word
Blackout
Thermoinfocomplexity
Fewer
Mathematics: Its Content, Methods and Meaning
The American Story
The Network State
Believe In People
Manias, Panics, and Crashes
The Victorian Internet
Sourdough Culture
Asset Management
The Sovereign Individual
The Friction Project
Confessions of a Philosopher
The Innovator’s Solution
Mint Condition
All Quiet on the Western Front
Of Wolves and Men
The Pleasure of Finding Things Out
Profile of a Nation
A Second Chance
The Great Challenge
Founders' Son
Think Like
The Last Lion
Why We Believe in God(s)
The Poems of Dylan Thomas
Home Economics
Plants of the Gods
The Etymologicon
Look to Windward
In the Company of Giants
A Man for All Markets
24/6
The Little Bitcoin Book
The Sketchbooks of Chris Wilkinson
A Timeless Way of Building
The Making of the Atomic Bomb
Thing Explainer
Molecular Biology of the Cell
The Right Stuff
The Great Wave
Our Final Invention
Dirt to Soil
What Works on Wall Street
Connectography
Why America Is Not a New Rome
The World According to Garp
Water in Plain Sight
An Autobiography of Anthony Trollope
Over the Edge of the World
Letters to a Young Scientist
The Energy World Is Flat
Into Thin Air
Think Like a Monk
How to Read a Book
Intellectuals
Hoover Dam
The Story of Civilization: Caesar and Christ
Joe Beef
Hornblower Saga
Permutation City
From Third World to First
Little Fires Everywhere
The Sports Gene
First Friends
Infrastructure
Team of Rivals
Distant Force
The Score Takes Care of Itself
Ask The Dust
Where Is My Flying Car?
Just Mercy
Resurrection From The Underground
Mastery
Lord of Light