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Growing, shrinking, and long-run economic performance

Growing, shrinking, and long-run economic performance

Stephen Broadberry, John Joseph Wallis, The CAGE Background Briefing Series No. 65, September 2017
background briefing series,economic history,policy briefing

Stephen Broadberry, John Joseph Wallis, The CAGE Background Briefing Series No. 65, September 2017

Most analysis of long-run economic performance abstracts from short-run fluctuations and seeks to explain improved performance through an increase in the rate of growth. Using data on annual rates of change of per capita income reaching back to the 13th century for some countries, this column show that improved long-run performance has actually occurred primarily through a decline in the rate and frequency of shrinking. Structural change, technological change, demographic change and the changing incidence of warfare offer at best a partial explanation; a full understanding requires a consideration of institutional change.

Economic History