When America Was Most Innovative, And Why

SKIP TO CONTENTHarvard Business Review LogoBusiness historyWhen America Was Most Innovative, and Why

by Ufuk Akcigit, John Grigsby and Tom Nicholas

March 6, 2017

• Post
• Post
• Share
• Save
• Buy Copies
• Print

Leer en españolLer em português

• Post
• Post
• Share
• Save
• Buy Copies
• Print

The competitiveness of the U.S. economy depends on technological progress, but recent data suggests that innovation is getting harder and the pace of growth is slowing down. A major challenge in business and policy spheres is to understand the environments that are most conducive to innovation. One way to do that is to look to history. In our research we focused on the golden age of invention: the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when America became the world’s preeminent industrial nation.

Ufuk Akcigit is an associate professor of economics at The University of Chicago, and a Faculty Research Fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research.John Grigsby is a PhD candidate at the University of Chicago.Tom Nicholas is William J. Abernathy Professor of Business Administration in the Entrepreneurial Management Group of Harvard Business School.

• Post
• Post
• Share
• Save
• Buy Copies
• Print

Read more on Business history or related topics Innovation and North America

Partner Center

Subscribe to HBR Executive

HBR Executive delivers trusted insights and actionable strategies to guide leaders through consequential decisions. Practical tools, and forward-looking perspectives cut through the noise to equip you to navigate uncertainty, stay ahead of emerging trends, and plan for a stable future.

Exclusive Benefits

• Playbooks

  Concrete strategies, tactics, and solutions to real challenges from your peers and other experts. Published every 2 weeks. All Playbooks (Opens a new page)

• Masterclasses

  On-demand sessions with top experts to help you strengthen your leadership. Posted every 2 weeks. All Masterclasses (Opens a new page)

• Agenda

  A weekly newsletter of timely insights that interpret today's business climate and help you chart a path to what's next. All Agenda (Opens a new page)

• Live

  Monthly candid conversations with top business thinkers on topics you care about. All Live Sessions (Opens a new page)

• The Strategy Lab

  An AI-powered platform purpose-built to help C-suite leaders develop, communicate, and align their business strategies. Explore The Strategy Lab (Opens a new page)

• Customer Service
• Executive For Your Team
• Other Subscriptions