American Capitalism, 1945–2000: Continuity and Change from Mass Production to the Information Society

The record of the American economy since 1945 offers an embarrassment of riches for the historian, and Wyatt Wells has brought them together in a compact and incisive history. His theme is how greatly many economic circumstances changed—and how many other features remained essentially the same. He shows how throughout the period the United States enjoyed not only the world's largest economy but by most measures its most diverse and sophisticated. The second half of the twentieth century witnessed extraordinary change: the development of entirely new industries, such as television and computers; the decline of established industries, such as steel and textiles; the impact of international trade and competition on growing numbers of Americans. As the boom of the 1950s and 1960s gave way to "stagflation" in the 1970s, the 1980s became a time of extensive reorganization, which in turn laid the foundation for another boom in the 1990s. Still, as Mr. Wells notes, industry remained in private hands; political debate consistently returned to the same issues involving the proper role of government in the economy; and the country remained committed to an open international economic system. American Capitalism examines the development of economic policy (government spending, taxes, regulation, and monetary policy), economic structure (companies, markets, technology, and labor), and ideas about both, explaining the complex interaction of these factors over the past half-century. The book offers an essential short course on American economic development over these years.

About the Author :
Wyatt Wells is distinguished research associate professor of history at Auburn University, Montgomery. His other books include Antitrust and the Formation of the Postwar World and Economist in an Uncertain World. He lives in Montgomery, Alabama.

Review :
A lucid, highly informative, and wide-ranging analysis . . . valuable . . . balanced. A concise presentation . . . should become a standard. Concise, swiftly paced . . . stimulating and enlightening, but also reassuring. Wells steers an energetic course . . . interesting reading. People wanting a good read that well describes the essence of the important changes in the American economy and gives a good 'feel' of America's changing role in the world will find this an excellent choice. Wells does what he sets out to do. . . . This book is very accessible, with arguments laid out in clear temporal sequence with minimal academic jargon. Provides a concise overview of American economic development from 1945 to 2000. An intriguing survey. . . . An essential key.