--- canonical_url: "https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-31/two-books-for-the-price-of-one-review-article-of-the-rise-and-fall-of-american-growth-by-robert-j-gordon/" title: "Two Books for the Price of One: Review Article of The Rise and Fall of American Growth by Robert J. Gordon" author: name: "CSLS" url: "https://csls.ca/author/cslc/" date_published: "2026-07-13T07:40:54+00:00" date_modified: "2026-07-13T07:40:54+00:00" post_type: "ipm" summary: "" ipm_issue_period: - "Fall 2016" ipm_keyword: - "Gordon" - "living standards" - "optimism" - "productivity" - "review article" - "secular stagnation" - "technological change" - "The Rise and Fall of American Growth" - "United States" ipm_research_theme: - "Productivity trends and comparisons" ipm_country_focus: - "United States" featured_image: "https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IPM_50_banner.webp" status: "publish" --- # Two Books for the Price of One: Review Article of The Rise and Fall of American Growth by Robert J. Gordon Canonical URL: https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-31/two-books-for-the-price-of-one-review-article-of-the-rise-and-fall-of-american-growth-by-robert-j-gordon/ # Two Books for the Price of One: Review Article of The Rise and Fall of American Growth by Robert J. Gordon [Download full PDF article](https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IPM-Issue-31-4-Sichel.pdf) Cite this article × Cite this article as: Sichel, Dan. 2016. “Two Books for the Price of One: Review Article of The Rise and Fall of American Growth by Robert J. Gordon.” International Productivity Monitor, No. 31 (Fall 2016): 57–62. https://www.csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-31/two-books-for-the-price-of-one-review-article-of-the-rise-and-fall-of-american-growth-by-robert-j-gordon/ ## Author: - Dan Sichel Division of Research and Statistics, Federal Reserve Board ## IPM Issue 31 Fall 2016 pp. 57–62 ## Related IPM articles [Is the SNA Still Useful? A Review Article on The Measure of Progress: Counting What Really Matters Paul Schreyer Fall 2025 | IPM Issue 49 | pp. 116–124](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-49/is-the-sna-still-useful-a-review-article-on-the-measure-of-progress-counting-what-really-matters/) [The Relationship between Efficiencies Defenses for Mergers and TFP Growth Robin Shaban Fall 2025 | IPM Issue 49 | pp. 82–102](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-49/the-relationship-between-efficiencies-defenses-for-mergers-and-tfp-growth/) [Labour Productivity as a Measure of Technological Change Ulrich Kohli Fall 2025 | IPM Issue 49 | pp. 64–81](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-49/labour-productivity-as-a-measure-of-technological-change/) [Adult Skills and Productivity: New Evidence from PIAAC 2023 Dan Andrews, Balázs Égert, Christine de La Maisonneuve Fall 2025 | IPM Issue 49 | pp. 41–63](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-49/adult-skills-and-productivity-new-evidence-from-piaac-2023/) [The Potential Impact of Pro-competitive Regulatory Reforms on Productivity and Growth in Canada Gilbert Cette, Jimmy Lopez, Giuseppe Nicoletti, Océane Vernerey Fall 2025 | IPM Issue 49 | pp. 3–40](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-49/the-potential-impact-of-pro-competitive-regulatory-reforms-on-productivity-and-growth-in-canada/) [The Challenges of Productivity Measurement — Review Article on The Measure of Economies: Measuring Productivity in an Age of Technological Change Chad Syverson Spring 2025 | IPM Issue 48 | pp. 139–143](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-48/the-challenges-of-productivity-measurement-review-article-on-the-measure-of-economies-measuring-productivity-in-an-age-of-technological-change/) [De-industrialization and the Great Productivity Slowdown: What Comes Next? Paul Fisher Spring 2025 | IPM Issue 48 | pp. 115–138](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-48/de-industrialization-and-the-great-productivity-slowdown-what-comes-next/) [Appendix: UK Productivity Growth Rates Across Data Vintages and Studies Josh Martin Spring 2025 | IPM Issue 48 | pp. 65–73](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-48/appendix-uk-productivity-growth-rates-across-data-vintages-and-studies/) [Opportunities and Risks of Artificial Intelligence for Productivity Francesco Filippucci, Peter Gal, Katharina Laengle, Matthias Schief, Filiz Unsal Spring 2025 | IPM Issue 48 | pp. 1–26](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-48/opportunities-and-risks-of-artificial-intelligence-for-productivity/) [Using Ecosystem Accounting to Integrate the Environment in Measures of Multifactor Productivity Carl Obst Fall 2024 | IPM Issue 47 | pp. 87–108](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-47/using-ecosystem-accounting-to-integrate-the-environment-in-measures-of-multifactor-productivity/) ## Abstract ## Résumé EN FR Copy link Email LinkedIn Robert Gordon has written a remarkable book; actually two “books,” one about the past and one about the future. The first “book” is an account of the dramatic changes in American living standards since 1870. Looking forward, the second “book” makes the case that the miracles that powered the economy upward in the century to 1970 cannot be repeated and that the rate of economic growth has stepped down. Moreover, given headwinds facing the economy, Gordon argues that the typical American family will see only sluggish improvements in living standards. The first “book” is truly extraordinary in its coverage and creativity – it is insightful, compelling, and highly entertaining (and would be for noneconomists as well as economists). The second “book” – not so much. It is more speculative and controversial. While Gordon’s more pessimistic narrative has gained significant traction, I argue that there is plenty of room for optimism. Robert J. Gordon’s The Rise and Fall of Ameri- Robert Gordon a écrit un livre remarquable; en réalité deux « livres », l’un sur le passé et l’autre sur l’avenir. Le premier « livre » est un récit des changements spectaculaires dans le niveau de vie américain depuis 1870. Pour l’avenir, le second « livre » défend la thèse que les miracles qui ont propulsé l’économie vers le haut au cours du siècle jusqu’en 1970 ne peuvent pas se reproduire et que le taux de croissance économique a décliné. De plus, compte tenu des vents contraires auxquels fait face l’économie, Gordon soutient que la famille américaine type ne connaîtra que de modestes améliorations de son niveau de vie. Le premier « livre » est vraiment extraordinaire dans sa couverture et sa créativité — il est perspicace, convaincant et très divertissant. Le second « livre » est plus spéculatif et controversé. [Download full PDF](https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IPM-Issue-31-4-Sichel.pdf)