Book · 2016 · Business & Economics
The Rise and Fall of American Growth
The U.S. Standard of Living since the Civil War
Why people recommend it
The Rise and Fall of American Growth by Robert J. Gordon is an economic history examining why future technological progress may never match the unprecedented economic growth seen during the first part of the Industrial Revolution. Ethan Mollick appeared on The Ezra Klein Show in 2024 and recommended The Rise and Fall of American Growth as the very first title in his curated selection of three essential books. Mollick highlighted its core argument concerning the unique and historically unmatched nature of early industrial revolution growth rates compared to modern eras. The book provides a detailed macroeconomic framework for understanding productivity, standard of living improvements, and the long-term trajectory of technological innovation. By contrasting past breakthroughs with contemporary advancements, Gordon challenges readers to rethink optimistic assumptions about endless, rapid economic expansion driven solely by new technologies. The inclusion of this work in high-profile podcast discussions underscores its ongoing relevance for economists, technologists, and policymakers grappling with contemporary productivity slowdowns and the broader implications of artificial intelligence and digital transformation on future societal wealth generation.
Who recommended it
- Ethan Mollick Recommended
Ethan Mollick — 2 mentions
“one of them is the rise and fall of American growth which is it's two things it's an argument about why we will never have the kind of growth that we did in the first part of the Industrial Revolution again”
“one of them is the rise and fall of American growth which is it's two things it's an argument about why we will never have the kind of growth that we did in the first part of the Industrial Revolution again”