Thinking about Growth

"The 13 essays assembled in this collection are the fruit of 40 years of study of the process of economic growth here [in the U.S.] and in Japan and Western Europe by a preeminent scholar of the subject. The first of the four parts deals with the change in economists' approach to the phenomenon over this period. Five essays in the second part analyze the proximate causes of long-term economic change, including the contributions of capital formation, education, and technology. The third part comprises two celebrated essays on long swings in U.S. economic growth. The final section deals with growth and welfare." Anna J. Schwartz in the Key Reporter "This is a splendid book, informative, well argued, well written, literate, and illuminating. Professor Abramovitz is a masterful economist and the consummate empiricist. This book illustrates his command of both technique and careful interpretation of empirical data." Edward N. Wolff in the Journal of Economic Literature "This book is the distilled wisdom of decades of scholarly endeavor...Like Montaigne, Abramovitz is a master of the essay as a vehicle to stimulate interest and present new insights. His rigour and clarity are beautifully illustrated in the 24 page review of Denison's seminal work." Angus Maddison, Southern Economic Journal "...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