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Digitizing Carroll D. Wright’s “Hand and Machine Labor” Study

Author

Listed:
  • Atack Jeremy

    (Department of Economics, Box 351819 Station B, 2301 Vanderbilt Place, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN. 37235, USA)

  • A. Margo Robert

    (Department of Economics, Boston University, 270 Bay State Road Room 311, Boston MA, 02215-1403 USA)

  • W. Rhode Paul

    (Department of Economics, University of Michigan, 611 Tappan Ave, 205, Lorch Hall Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-1220, USA)

Abstract

We describe our digitization of a uniquely detailed study of 19th century production methods assembled by the United States Department of Labor (1899). The staff spent five years collecting and assembling data on the production of hundreds of highly specific products (as well as some services) at the production operations level using traditional artisanal (“hand”) methods and by the (then) most modern “machine” methods, measuring productivity in terms of the time taken to complete a specific task or set of tasks. The data proved too complex and voluminous to use, except as a source of anecdotes, until now. We describe how we have made these invaluable data from the first industrial revolution tractable to modern analysis and how they might be used to provide insight and perspective into the effects of robotics and artificial intelligence on labor during the third industrial revolution.

Suggested Citation

  • Atack Jeremy & A. Margo Robert & W. Rhode Paul, 2023. "Digitizing Carroll D. Wright’s “Hand and Machine Labor” Study," Jahrbuch für Wirtschaftsgeschichte / Economic History Yearbook, De Gruyter, vol. 64(1), pages 9-30, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:jbwige:v:64:y:2023:i:1:p:9-30:n:6
    DOI: 10.1515/jbwg-2023-0002
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    Keywords

    Keywords: automation; mechanization; steam power; hand labor; machine labor; PDF; OCR; gerund; deskilling; Automation; Mechanisierung; Dampfkraft; Handarbeit; Maschinenarbeit; Gerundium; Dequalifizierung;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • N - Economic History
    • N - Economic History
    • N - Economic History
    • J - Labor and Demographic Economics

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