"Between 1929 and 1933, real output per adult fell over 30 percent and total factor productivity fell 18 percent.This productivity decrease is much larger than expected from just extrapolating the productivity decrease that typically occurs during recessions.This paper evaluates what factors may...

This essay reviews Barry Eichengreen's recent book that compares the Great Depression and the Great Recession. Eichengreen focuses on deficient aggregate demand as the key reason for why both downturns were so deep and why they lasted so long. I assess the book's arguments regarding the causes...