PRODUCTIVITY RATES IN THE U.S. from 1820 to Present

GROWTH/PRODUCTIVITY RATES IN THE U.S.

 from 1820 to Present

Economics Without The B.S.**: 

[**  Double entendre intended.]

THE BIG QUESTION:  (I know why the 1940s are #1.)  Why are the 1960s head and shoulders above every other decade in American history?  About 40% more productive than the 1980s and about 70% more productive than the 1990s.  And it is not due to post-WWII factors, the Vietnam War build-up, or women entering the workforce in mass.

GROWTH/PRODUCTIVITY RATES IN THE U.S. from 1820 to Present

[Real GDP per capita, in 2009 $’s; factors out the effects of inflation and population growth.

1.  1940s – 40%                      [Hint:]*  The Generations
2.  1960s – 35%                                   Greatest Generation
3.  1870s – 28%                                   Silent Generation
4.  1980s – 25%                                   Baby Boomers
5.  1970s – 25%                                   Generation X
6.  1920s – 24%                                   Millennials
7.  1850s – 24%
8.  1880s – 23%
9.  1990s – 21%
10. 1950s – 19%
11. 1910s – 14%
12. 1840s – 15%
13. 1930s – 13%
14. 1830s – 9.7%
15. 1890s – 9.0%
16. 1820s – 8.1%
17. 1860s – 7.6% 
18.  2000s – 5.5%
19. 1900s – 5.0%
20. 2010s – 4.8%      (for 5 years) 

*  And if you need another hint, go back to YouTube and pull up President Kennedy in Houston, Texas in 1962 explaining why we are going to the Moon.