Write a thesis-driven argument supported by evidence that analyzes the causes of the period of expansion described below.
Economic historians Robert L. Heilbroner and William Milberg describe the period between 1945 and 1973 in U.S. economic history as “one of fast economic growth—indeed, among the fastest of any in the history of the world. As a result, the period became known as the ‘Golden Age” of capitalism.” (CP 65). Paul Krugman adds that the US in the years after WWII “was a middle-class society to a far greater extent than it had been in the 1920s—or than it is today.” (CP 55 ). Looking back to the period between the WWII and 1973, what factors, do you think, explain what brought this period of sustained prosperity about?
Please only use the cources provided below and in the attached section:
W&R: Walton and Rockoff, History of the American Economy 13th edition Chapter 24 to 28
Alex F. Schwartz, “Housing Finance” read up to “Mortgage Finance from
the 1940 to the 1980s”
the 1940 to the 1980s”
Peter Lindert and Jeffrey G. Williamson, “The Greatest Leveling of All
time”
time”
Nelson Lichtenstein, “A Labor-Management Accord?”
Paul Krugman, “The Great Compression
Heilbroner and Milberg, “The Golden Age of Capitalism,”
Heilbroner and Milberg, “The Golden Age Comes to an End”