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Comparative productivity in British and German manufacturing before World War II: reconciling direct benchmark estimates and time series projections

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Broadberry, Stephen and Burhop, Carsten. (2007) Comparative productivity in British and German manufacturing before World War II: reconciling direct benchmark estimates and time series projections. Journal of Economic History, The, Vol.67 (No.2). pp. 315-349. ISSN 0022-0507

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0022050707000125

Abstract

This article provides a new benchmark estimate of comparative Germany/U.K. labor productivity in manufacturing for circa 1907, and experiments with alternative German manufacturing production indices for time series projection from a circa 1935 benchmark. A consistent picture of broadly similar levels of manufacturing labor productivity in Britain and Germany throughout the period 1871–1938 is established. We also show that a substantial German productivity lead had already emerged in heavy industry by 1907, but was offset by a substantial British productivity lead in light industry. For the pre-1914 period, an additional check is provided using nominal income-based estimates.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions D History General and Old World > DA Great Britain D History General and Old World > DD Germany
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Economics
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Industrial productivity -- Measurement, Industrial productivity -- Great Britain, Industrial productivity -- Germany, Great Britain -- Economic conditions -- 1918-1945, Great Britain -- Economic conditions -- 20th century, Germany -- Economic conditions -- 1888-1918, Germany -- Economic conditions -- 1918-1945
Journal or Publication Title:	Journal of Economic History, The
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
ISSN:	0022-0507
Date:	29 May 2007
Volume:	Vol.67
Number:	No.2
Page Range:	pp. 315-349
Identification Number:	10.1017/S0022050707000125
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access
Funder:	European Commission (EC)
Grant number:	MRTN-CT-2004-512439 (EC-MCA)
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URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/683