How Much Did the Liberty Shipbuilders Learn? New Evidence for an Old Case Study

Posted: 29 Mar 2001

See all articles by Peter Thompson

Peter Thompson

Georgia Institute of Technology - Scheller College of Business

Abstract

This paper offers some new estimates of the contribution of learning to the rapid increases in labor productivity observed in the construction of Liberty ships during World War II. The study exploits new data on physical capital investment and vessel quality constructed from contemporary records held at the National Archives. Estimates of the rate of learning are shown to be sensitive to the inclusion of the new capital data, and data on vessel quality provide evidence that part of the measured productivity increases were secured at the expense of quality.

Suggested Citation

Thompson, Peter, How Much Did the Liberty Shipbuilders Learn? New Evidence for an Old Case Study. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=256549

Peter Thompson (Contact Author)

Georgia Institute of Technology - Scheller College of Business ( email )

800 West Peachtree St., NW
Atlanta, GA 30308-1149
United States

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