Two centuries of productivity growth in computing

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Abstract

The present study analyzes computer performance over the last century and a half. Three results stand out. First, there has been a phenomenal increase in computer power over the twentieth century. Depending upon the standard used, computer performance has improved since manual computing by a factor between 1.7 trillion and 76 trillion. Second, there was a major break in the trend around World War II. Third, this study develops estimates of the growth in computer power relying on performance rather than components; the price declines using performance-based measures are markedly larger than those reported in the official statistics. © 2007 The Economic History Association.

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APA

Nordhaus, W. D. (2007). Two centuries of productivity growth in computing. Journal of Economic History, 67(1), 128–159. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022050707000058

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