4 - A sectoral database: Britain, the United States and Germany, 1870–1990

Summary

Introduction

This chapter provides a full guide to the sectoral database underlying the quantitative information on comparative labour productivity levels presented in chapters 2 and 3. In addition to the main tables of comparative labour productivity levels for nine sectors in agriculture and industry as well as services, I have taken the opportunity to make available here the underlying data. This consists of the sectoral time series in appendix 4.1 and cross-sectional benchmarks in appendix 4.2. Having presented the time series data, it is natural to proceed to an analysis of productivity growth to complement the focus on comparative productivity levels. This helps to underline the fact that, although Britain has undoubtedly undergone a relative economic decline since the mid-nineteenth century, this has occurred within the context of growth. Indeed, in absolute terms, and even relative to most countries, there can be little doubt that Britain has been very successful in raising productivity and living standards throughout the period under review. Nevertheless, Germany and the United States have been even more successful, and Britain has been overtaken.

Comparative US/UK labour productivity levels

Time series projections

The starting point for the time series projections of comparative US/UK labour productivity levels in table 4.1 is the set of historical national accounts for the two countries. Full sources are listed in appendix 4.1, but, in general, time series for British output and employment are taken from Feinstein (1972) to 1948, and updated to 1990 from the official UK national accounts and OECD labour force estimates.