Research by economists and economic historians has greatly expanded our knowledge of labor markets and real wages in the United States since the Civil War, but the period from 1820 to 1860 has been far less studied. Robert Margo fills this gap by collecting and analyzing the payroll records of civilians hired by the United States Army and the 1850 and 1860 manuscript federal Censuses of Social Statistics. New wage series are constructed for three occupational groups common laborers, artisans, and white-collar workers in each of the four major census regions Northeast, Midwest, South Atlantic,...

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...