The Scale of Production in Western Economic Development: A Comparison of Official Industry Statistics in the United States, Britain, France, and Germany, 1905–1913

B-Tier
Journal: Journal of Economic History
Year: 1996
Volume: 56
Issue: 1
Pages: 90-112

Authors (2)

Kinghorn, Janice Rye (not in RePEc) Nye, John Vincent (George Mason University)

Score contribution per author:

1.005 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We use census data and information on large firms to generate descriptions of structural features of Western industry around 1906. We find that although the United States conforms to existing stereotypes, most other nations do not. German industry stands out as having the smallest plants and firms and the lowest concentration levels both in the aggregate and when grouped by industrial classifications. Equally startling, French levels of plant size and concentration are comparable to those of the United States. We speculate on the importance of these results for rethinking the traditional analysis of industrial development in the early twentieth century.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:cup:jechis:v:56:y:1996:i:01:p:90-112_01
Journal Field
Economic History
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-26