---
canonical_url: "https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/issue-3/review-article-on-the-world-economy-a-millennial-perspective-by-angus-maddison/"
title: "Review Article on The World Economy: A Millennial Perspective by Angus Maddison"
author:
  name: "CSLS"
  url: "https://csls.ca/author/cslc/"
date_published: "2026-07-13T05:42:42+00:00"
date_modified: "2026-07-13T06:38:13+00:00"
post_type: "ipm"
summary: ""
ipm_issue_period:
  - "Fall 2001"
ipm_keyword:
  - "Canada"
  - "convergence"
  - "economic history"
  - "GDP per capita"
  - "living standards"
  - "Maddison"
  - "review article"
  - "United States"
  - "world economy"
ipm_research_theme:
  - "Productivity trends and comparisons"
ipm_country_focus:
  - "Canada"
  - "International"
  - "United States"
featured_image: "https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IPM_50_banner.webp"
status: "publish"
---

# Review Article on The World Economy: A Millennial Perspective by Angus Maddison

Canonical URL: https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/issue-3/review-article-on-the-world-economy-a-millennial-perspective-by-angus-maddison/

# Review Article on The World Economy: A Millennial Perspective by Angus Maddison

[Download full PDF article](https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IPM-Issue-3-6-Sharpe.pdf)

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Cite this article as:

Sharpe, Andrew. 2001. “Review Article on The World Economy: A Millennial Perspective by Angus Maddison.” International Productivity Monitor, No. 3 (Fall 2001): 69–78. https://www.csls.ca/ipm-archive/issue-3/review-article-on-the-world-economy-a-millennial-perspective-by-angus-maddison/

## Author:

-
Andrew Sharpe
Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS)

## IPM Issue 3

Fall 2001 pp. 69–78

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## Abstract

## Résumé

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This review article examines Angus Maddison’s comprehensive study of world economic history, covering two millennia of population, GDP, and GDP per capita estimates for virtually all countries. Key findings highlighted include: Italy’s leadership in GDP per capita in the 16th century, the Netherlands’ subsequent rise, the U.K.’s dominance in the 19th century, and U.S. leadership since around 1904. The review also summarizes Maddison’s findings on the economic performance of advanced capitalist countries, resurgent Asia, and transition economies in the second half of the 20th century, and discusses implications for Canada’s economic performance relative to the United States.

Cet article de recension examine l’étude exhaustive d’Angus Maddison sur l’histoire économique mondiale, couvrant deux millénaires d’estimations de la population, du PIB et du PIB par habitant pour pratiquement tous les pays. Parmi les principaux constats mis en lumière figurent : le leadership de l’Italie en matière de PIB par habitant au XVIe siècle, la montée en puissance des Pays-Bas par la suite, la suprématie du Royaume-Uni au XIXe siècle et le leadership américain depuis environ 1904. La recension résume également les constats de Maddison sur les performances économiques des pays capitalistes avancés, de l’Asie en essor et des économies en transition dans la seconde moitié du XXe siècle, et examine les implications pour la performance économique du Canada par rapport aux États-Unis.

[Download full PDF](https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IPM-Issue-3-6-Sharpe.pdf)
