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Price and Production Controls in World War II

Author

Listed:
  • Hugh Rockoff

    (Rutgers)

Abstract

The great surge in munitions production in World War II, which reached its peak in 1943, was produced by a building boom launched in 1941 and 1942. Resources were drawn rapidly to war production centers by financial incentives and other personal and corporate motives such as patriotism. This happened while price controllers at OPA and production controllers at the WPB were still devloping their policies. Price and production controls may have accomplished many things toward the end of the war, but they cannot account for the speed and magnitude of the initial response.

Suggested Citation

  • Hugh Rockoff, 1996. "Price and Production Controls in World War II," Departmental Working Papers 199602, Rutgers University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:rut:rutres:199602
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    File URL: http://www.sas.rutgers.edu/virtual/snde/wp/1996-02.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Rockoff, Hugh, 1978. "Indirect price increases and real wages during world war II," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 15(4), pages 407-420, October.
    2. Gordon, Robert J, 1969. "$45 Billion of U.S. Private Investment Has Been Mislaid," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 59(3), pages 221-238, June.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    controls; war;

    JEL classification:

    • N1 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations
    • N4 - Economic History - - Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation

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