Understanding West German Economic Growth in the 1950s

Barry Eichengreen () and Albrecht Ritschl

No SFB649DP2008-068, SFB 649 Discussion Papers from Humboldt University, Collaborative Research Center 649

Abstract: We evaluate explanations for why Germany grew so quickly in the 1950s. The recent litera- ture has emphasized convergence, structural change and institutional shake-up while minimiz- ing the importance of the postwar shock. We show that this shock and its consequences were more important than neoclassical convergence and structural change in explaining the rapid growth of the West German economy in the 1950s. We find little support for the hypothesis of institutional shakeup. This suggests a different interpretation of post-World War II German economic growth than features in much of the literature.

Keywords: economic growth; productivity; Germany (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: N14 N44 O52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-fdg and nep-his
Date: 2008-12

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Journal Article: Understanding West German economic growth in the 1950s (2009)
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