Does slower labor force growth explain most of the US growth slowdown?
Core argument: U.S. real GDP growth fell from 4.2% annually in 1950–1970 to 2% since 2000, while real GDP per worker declined only slightly, from 1.38% in 1970–2000 to 1.29% in 2000–2019.
The decline in America's growth rate from the late 20th to the early 21st century is largely attributed to demographic changes, with two-thirds explained by shifts in human capital within the labor force. The surge of women entering the workforce was a significant one-time boost, but as this effect waned, growth appeared to slow. Real GDP growth dropped from 4.2% annually (1950-1970) to 2% since 2000, yet real GDP per worker only slightly declined from 1.38% (1970-2000) to 1.29% (2000-2019). The shift towards service industries, which have lower productivity growth, further contributed by reducing productivity growth by 0.2 percentage points. While some sectors like health care have seen declining productivity, this shift reflects a successful economy prioritizing services over goods. Vollrath dismisses inequality, market concentration, and trade with China as major factors, suggesting instead that overregulation and reduced entrepreneurship are more impactful.





