The Anglo-German Industrial Productivity Puzzle, 1895–1935: A Restatement and a Possible Resolution

B-Tier
Journal: Journal of Economic History
Year: 2008
Volume: 68
Issue: 2
Pages: 535-565

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 1 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

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

Abstract

International productivity comparisons are often plagued by discrepancies between benchmark estimates and time series extrapolations. Broadberry and Burhop present both types of evidence for the Anglo-German comparison. For their preferred data, they find only a minimal German productivity lead prior to World War I, while use of a revised industrial output series for Germany by Ritschl leads to implausible results. This article presents further time series revisions and substantial corrections to the Broadberry and Burhop benchmark estimate. Results strongly suggest a considerable German productivity lead over Britain prior to World War I, which eroded during and after the war.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:cup:jechis:v:68:y:2008:i:02:p:535-565_00
Journal Field
Economic History
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-01-29