America s expansion to one of the richest nations in the world was partly due to a steady increase in labor productivity, which in turn depends upon the invention and deployment of new technologies and on investments in both human and physical capital. The accumulation of human capitalthe knowledge and skill of workershas featured prominently in American economic leadership over the past two centuries.
"Human Capital in History "brings together contributions from leading researchers in economic history, labor economics, the economics of education, and related fields. Building on Claudia...

The rise of America from a colonial outpost to one of the world s most sophisticated and productive economies was facilitated by the establishment of a variety of economic enterprises pursued within the framework of laws and institutions that set the rules for their organization and operation.
To better understand the historical processes central to American economic development, "Enterprising America" brings together contributors who address the economic behavior of American firms and financial institutionsand the associated legal institutions that shaped their behaviorthroughout the...