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
Waiting for Godot
Sam Walton
How To Lie With Statistics
Thinking In Systems
King Lear
A Second Chance
Bringing Down The House
Lying
Why Does College Cost So Much?
It's About Damn Time
Failing Forward
Electrify
100 Best-Loved Poems
The Body Keeps The Score
The Back of the Napkin
Slugfest
Leonardo Da Vinci
City of the Century
Einstein's Dreams
To Rule the Waves
Startup Playbook
The Order of Time
The Clash of Civilization and the Remaking of World Order
With All Due Respect
Eating Animals
Fleishman Is In Trouble
Catching the Big Fish
Representing Talent
Priceless
Brave Enough
The New Market Wizards
Jurassic Park
Harvesting the Biosphere
A Short History of Nearly Everything
Gulag Archipelago
Kant and the Platypus
Swarm Troopers
The Soul of A New Machine
Hate Inc.
Competing in the Age of AI
Slouching Towards Bethlehem
How Google Works
Peter Pan
Hamlet
The New Atlantis
Recapturing The Spirit Of Enterprise
Why Globalization Works
Expectations Investing
Brave New World
Behind the Beautiful Forevers
The Kitchen Cookbook
Kochland
Memoirs of My Life
Traction
Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets
Managing Oneself
Live Free or Die
The Art of War in the Middle Ages
Irresistible
Learning To Love Yourself
The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity
How to Stop Worrying and Start Living
Uncommon Measure
The Jewish Century
The Psychology of Achievement
Bird by Bird
A Man for All Markets
No Ordinary Time
The Meaning of Human Existence
Global Crisis
A Mind At Play
Get Smarter: Life and Business Lessons
Life Is What You Make It
The Gallic Wars
Anna Karenina
Founding Sales
The Anatomy of the State
Consciousness
The Emotion Code
Blueprint
Michael Jordan
Machine Learning for Dummies
The Player of Games
Mint Condition
Enlightenment Now
Mess
Waking Up
Black Box Thinking
As A Man Thinketh
Lasker's Manual of Chess
The Supermen
Probability, Random Variables and Stochastic Processes
The Underdog Founder
Guns, Sails, and Empires
The Power of Full Engagement
Lonesome Dove
Life on the Edge
COAN
Googled
The One Thing