Broadberry, Stephen. (2004) Explaining Anglo-German productivity differences in services since 1870. European Review of Economic History, Vol.8 (No.3). pp. 229-262. ISSN 1361-4916

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Abstract

Germany overtook Britain in comparative productivity levels for the whole economy primarily as a result of trends in services rather than trends in industry. Britain's productivity lead in services before World War II reflected external economies of scale in a highly urbanised economy with an international orientation. Low productivity in Germany reflected the underdevelopment of services in an economy that was slow to move out of agriculture. As German agricultural employment contracted sharply from the 1950s, catching-up occurred in services. This was aided by a sharp increase in human and physical capital accumulation, underpinned by the institutional framework of the postwar settlement.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions D History General and Old World > DD Germany D History General and Old World > DA Great Britain
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Economics
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Industrial productivity -- Great Britain, Industrial productivity -- Germany, Production (Economic theory), Great Britain -- Economic conditions -- 20th century, Germany -- Economic conditions -- 20th century
Journal or Publication Title:	European Review of Economic History
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
ISSN:	1361-4916
Date:	December 2004
Volume:	Vol.8
Number:	No.3
Page Range:	pp. 229-262
Identification Number:	10.1017/S1361491604001200
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access
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URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/750

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