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Structural Change in the Developed Countries during the Twentieth Century

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  • Feinstein, Charles

Abstract

The central theme of this paper is the process of structural change which occurred during the twentieth century in the leading industrial nations. The massive scale of the changes in all these countries is first illustrated by reference to the reallocation of the labour force between agriculture, industry, and the services, and the process of deindustrialization common to all these countries is highlighted. Alternative measures based on output data at current and constant prices are also considered. The paper then explores the main reasons for these shifts in the pattern of activity, looking at the interacting effects of demand- and supply-side factors. This is followed by an examination of some of the consequences of structural change, including the implications for the labour market and the overall growth of labour productivity. The final section speculates briefly about the likely implications for the less-developed countries following behind this advanced group. Copyright 1999 by Oxford University Press.

Suggested Citation

  • Feinstein, Charles, 1999. "Structural Change in the Developed Countries during the Twentieth Century," Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Oxford University Press and Oxford Review of Economic Policy Limited, vol. 15(4), pages 35-55, Winter.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:oxford:v:15:y:1999:i:4:p:35-55
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    Cited by:

    1. Matteo Deleidi & Walter Paternesi Meloni & Antonella Stirati, 2020. "Tertiarization, productivity and aggregate demand: evidence-based policies for European countries," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 30(5), pages 1429-1465, November.
    2. Beugelsdijk, S. & van Schaik, A.B.T.M., 2002. "Toward a Unified Europe? Explaining Cultural Differences by Economic Development, Cultural Heritage and Historical Shocks," Other publications TiSEM 646685de-4d68-4ac3-a6b6-f, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    3. Matteo Deleidi & Walter Paternesi Meloni & Antonella Stirati, 2018. "Structural change, labour productivity and the Kaldor-Verdoorn law: evidence from European countries," Departmental Working Papers of Economics - University 'Roma Tre' 0239, Department of Economics - University Roma Tre.
    4. David Card & Richard B. Freeman, 2004. "What Have Two Decades of British Economic Reform Delivered?," NBER Chapters, in: Seeking a Premier Economy: The Economic Effects of British Economic Reforms, 1980–2000, pages 9-62, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    5. Mary Gregory & Giovanni Russo, 2004. "The Employment Impact of Differences in Dmand and Production," DEMPATEM Working Papers wp10, AIAS, Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Labour Studies.
    6. Dietrich, Andreas & Krüger, Jens J., 2010. "Numerical explorations of the Ngai-Pissarides model of growth and structural change," Darmstadt Discussion Papers in Economics 199, Darmstadt University of Technology, Department of Law and Economics.
    7. Emanuele Felice, 2019. "Rethinking the take-off: the role of services in the new economic history of Italy (1861–1951)," Cliometrica, Springer;Cliometric Society (Association Francaise de Cliométrie), vol. 13(3), pages 405-442, September.
    8. Matthias Figo & Peter Mayerhofer, 2015. "Strukturwandel und regionales Wachstum - wissensintensive Unternehmensdienste als Wachstumsmotor?," Working Paper Reihe der AK Wien - Materialien zu Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft 145, Kammer für Arbeiter und Angestellte für Wien, Abteilung Wirtschaftswissenschaft und Statistik.
    9. David Card & Richard B. Freeman, 2002. "What Have Two Decades of British Economic Reform Delivered in Terms of Productivity Growth?," International Productivity Monitor, Centre for the Study of Living Standards, vol. 5, pages 41-52, Fall.
    10. Peter Mayerhofer & Matthias Firgo, 2015. "Wissensintensive Unternehmensdienste, Wissens-Spillovers und regionales Wachstum. Teilprojekt 2: Strukturwandel und regionales Wachstum – Wissensintensive Unternehmensdienste als "Wachstumsmotor&," WIFO Studies, WIFO, number 58503, April.
    11. Zoya Mladenova, 2005. "XX Century and the Evolution of the Economic Theory (Neoclassical Theory: Development of Microeconomics)," Economic Thought journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 5, pages 3-23.
    12. Matthias Firgo & Peter Mayerhofer, 2017. "Wachstumsbremse Tertiärisierung? Evidenz für die europäischen Regionen," WIFO Monatsberichte (monthly reports), WIFO, vol. 90(11), pages 843-854, November.
    13. Sjoerd Beugelsdijk & Ton Van Schaik & Wil Arts, 2006. "Toward a unified Europe? Explaining regional differences in value patterns by economic development, cultural heritage and historical shocks," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(3), pages 317-327.
    14. Elie Gray & André Grimaud & David Le Bris, 2018. "The Farmer, the Blue-collar, and the Monk: Understanding Economic Development through Saturations of Demands and Non-Homothetic Productivity Gains," CESifo Working Paper Series 6970, CESifo.
    15. Michael Peneder & Serguei Kaniovski & Bernhard Dachs, 2003. "What follows tertiarisation? structural change and the role of knowledge-based services," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(2), pages 47-66, March.
    16. Dankbaar, Ben & Vissers, Geert, 2009. "Of knowledge and work," MPIfG Working Paper 09/16, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies.
    17. Peter Mayerhofer, 2007. "De-Industrialisierung in Wien(?) Zur abnehmenden Bedeutung der Sachgütererzeugung für das Wiener Beschäftigungssystem: Umfang, Gründe, Wirkungsmechanismen," WIFO Studies, WIFO, number 33120, April.
    18. Gray, Elie & Grimaud, André & Le Bris, David, 2018. "The Farmer, the Blue-collar, and the Monk: Understanding economic development through saturations of demands and non-homothetic productivity gains," TSE Working Papers 18-906, Toulouse School of Economics (TSE).
    19. Claire Giordano & Francesco Zollino, 2021. "Long‐Run Factor Accumulation And Productivity Trends In Italy," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(3), pages 741-803, July.
    20. Benjamin N. Dennis & Talan B. Işcan, 2007. "Accounting for Structural Change: Evidence from Two Centuries of U.S. Data," Working Papers daleconwp2007-04, Dalhousie University, Department of Economics.
    21. Dennis, Benjamin N. & Iscan, Talan B., 2007. "Productivity growth and agricultural out-migration in the United States," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 18(1), pages 52-74, March.
    22. Mengying Wang & Stuart Gilmour & Chunhai Tao & Kaixuan Zhuang, 2020. "Does Scale and Efficiency of Government Health Expenditure Promote Development of the Health Industry?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-19, July.
    23. Alan Booth, 2003. "The manufacturing failure hypothesis and the performance of British industry during the long boom," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 56(1), pages 1-33, February.
    24. Shahid Yusuf, 2003. "Globalisation and the Challenge for Developing Countries," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 12(Supplemen), pages 35-72, February.

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