First published 2016
Robert Gordon examines how America built its high standard of living and why that growth may be ending. He focuses on the economic revolution that occurred between the Civil War and 1970, when electric lighting, indoor plumbing, automobiles, airplanes, and television completely transformed American homes and workplaces. Gordon argues that this century of unprecedented innovation cannot be duplicated. He identifies specific obstacles that will slow future productivity growth: growing inequality, educational stagnation, an aging population, rising student debt, and mounting federal debt. Through historical stories, data analysis, and economic reasoning, Gordon makes the case that the era of rapid American growth has concluded. The book both celebrates a century of dramatic change and warns that harder economic times lie ahead. Gordon offers readers a comprehensive examination of American economic history and a framework for understanding current economic challenges.
Genres: history, economics, non-fiction, 21st-century, academic, american-history
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-non-fiction
Setting: America
Period: Civil War, 1970
784 pages · Hardcover · Princeton University Press