Agglomeration economies and productivity growth: US cities, 1880-1930

Arbeitspapier

We investigate the role of industrial structure in labor productivity growth in U.S. cities between 1880 and 1930 using a new dataset constructed from the Census of Manufactures. We find that increases in specialization were associated with faster productivity growth but that diversity only had positive effects on productivity performance in large cities. We interpret our results as providing strong support for the importance of Marshallian externalities. Industrial specialization increased considerably in U.S. cities in the early 20th century, probably as a result of improved transportation, and we estimate that this resulted in significant gains in labor productivity.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: School of Economics Discussion Papers ; No. 1514

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Regional and Urban History: U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913 ; Regional and Urban History: U.S.; Canada: 1913- ; Other Spatial Production and Pricing Analysis
• Subject: agglomeration economies ; Jacobian externalities ; manufacturing productivity ; Marshallian externalities ; industrial structure

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Klein, Alexander ; Crafts, Nicholas F. R.
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): University of Kent, School of Economics
• (where): Canterbury
• (when): 2015

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/129997
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:42 AM CET