Thinking about Growth
And Other Essays on Economic Growth and Welfare

Moses Abramovitz (Author)

9780521407748, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 26 April 1991

396 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.2 cm, 0.58 kg

"...this is a collection of essays on growth by a pioneer in its measurement and interpretation, highly recommended to economists of all persuasions. Some of the essays should become required reading for students of economic growth in these days of theory without measurement." Economic Development and Cultural Change

The essays in this book explore the forces behind modern economic growth and, in particular, the causes of the extraordinary surge of growth since the Second World War. The introductory essay is an extended treatment of how economists now view the growth process and its causes. Other essays consider the contributions of capital formation, education, and the changed nature of industries and occupations. Professor Abramovitz asks why elevated incomes failed to bring the social progress and personal satisfaction that people had looked for. The final chapters in the book take up the causes of our discontent and consider whether the Welfare State has itself become an obstacle to further economic progress.The essays in this book explore the forces behind modern economic growth and, in particular, the causes of the extraordinary surge of growth since the Second World War. The introductory essay is an extended treatment of how economists now view the growth process and its causes. Other essays consider the contributions of capital formation, education, and the changed nature of industries and occupations. Professor Abramovitz asks why elevated incomes failed to bring the social progress and personal satisfaction that people had looked for. The final chapters in the book take up the causes of our discontent and consider whether the Welfare State has itself become an obstacle to further economic progress.

Editors' preface
Preface
Part I. Growth and the Economists: 1. Thinking about growth
2. Economics of growth
Part II. Studies in Long-Term Growth: 3. Resource and Output Trends in the United States since 1870
4. Economic growth in the United States: a review article
5. Manpower, capital, and technology
6. Rapid growth potential and its realization: the experience of capitalist economies in the postwar period
7. Catching up, forging ahead, and falling behind
Part III. Long Swings in Economic Growth: 8. The nature and significance of Kuznets cycles
9. The passing of the Kuznets cycle
Part IV. Growth and Welfare: 10. Economic goals and social welfare in the next generation
11. Growing up in an affluent society
12. The retreat from economic advance: changing ideas about economic progress
13. Welfare quandaries and productivity concerns.

Subject Areas: Economic history [KCZ]