Comparative productivity in British and German manufacturing before World War II: Reconciling direct benchmark estimates and time series projections

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: University of Warwick; Centre for Economic Policy Research - UK; Max Planck Society
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC HISTORY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0022-0507
• 发表日期: 2007
• 页码: 315-349
• 关键词: UNITED-STATES; GROWTH

摘要

This article provides a new benchmark estimate of comparative Germany/IJ.K. labor productivity in manufacturing for circa 1907, and experiments with alternative German manufacturing production indices for time series projection from a circa 1935 benchmark. A consistent picture of broadly similar levels of manufacturing labor productivity in Britain and Germany throughout the period 1871-1938 is established. We also show that a substantial German productivity lead had already emerged in heavy industry by 1907, but was offset by a substantial British productivity lead in light industry. For the pre-1914 period, an additional check is provided using nominal income-based estimates.