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General Purpose Technologies and Economic Growth: Electricity Diffusion in the Manufacturing Sector Before WWII

Author

Listed:
  • Ristuccia, C.A.
  • Solomou, S.

Abstract

This paper evaluates the diffusion of electricity within the context of a GPT perspective. The paper develops a new comparative data set on the usage of electricity in the manufacturing sectors of the US, Britain, France, Germany and Japan and proceeds to evaluate the hypotheses of a productivity slowdown and of a productivity bonus as postulated by many existing GPT models.

Suggested Citation

  • Ristuccia, C.A. & Solomou, S., 2010. "General Purpose Technologies and Economic Growth: Electricity Diffusion in the Manufacturing Sector Before WWII," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 1048, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.
    • Handle: RePEc:cam:camdae:1048
    as

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    File URL: http://www.econ.cam.ac.uk/research-files/repec/cam/pdf/cwpe1048.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Richard B. Du Boff, 1967. "The Introduction of Electric Power in American Manufacturing," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 20(3), pages 509-518, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Copyright; General Purpose Technologies; Economic Growth; Economic History; Productivity; Long Swings;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • N11 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913
    • N12 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - U.S.; Canada: 1913-
    • N13 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • N14 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - Europe: 1913-
    • N60 - Economic History - - Manufacturing and Construction - - - General, International, or Comparative
    • O40 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - General

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