The American WW2 Economic Puzzle

[ljadw]

Working fine ?

Between 38/39 and 43/ 44 the production of hard coal (without the protectorate ) was increasing by 81 million ton, but this increase was due to the increase of the Silesia production (74 million) and the Saar (8 million) ,while there was a stagnation in the Ruhr.And why was there an increase in Silesia(from 27 to 101)? Because of the annexation of the Polish coal areas . Without this annexation, the coal production would stagnate .

Thus : working fine ?

NO

[Guaporense]

Yes, continental European coal production as a whole increased about 10% from 1937 to 1943. It didn't increase like the US's (which increased over 40% from 1937 to 1943), but increased nonetheless.

[Guaporense]

Using the same kind of analysis for the US:

Real NNP (source: Friedman, Monetary Trends of the United States and the United Kingdom), millions 1929 dollars:

1937 - 92,717
1938 - 85,391
1939 - 92,268
1940 - 101,176
1941 - 113,338
1942 - 130,978
1943 - 141,021
1944 - 142,919
1945 - 138,055

Coal output:

1939 - 404.9
1940 - 464.7
1941 - 515.0
1942 - 580.9
1943 - 586.2

Coal output increased by 45% while NNP increased by 52% from 1939 to 1943. They match more closely than the German figures (increase in coal output of 45% while GNP increased 77%), although the US didn't experience a increase in energy intensity like Germany did in WW1 (when coal output dropped 5% but GNP dropped 21%). Assuming the US energy intensity increased to be same degree as in Germany in WW1 would imply in an increase in energy intensity from 1939 to 1943 of 20%, so real NNP of the US would be 111,666 million 1929 dollars in 1943.

[ljadw]

Using the same kind of analysis for the US:

Real NNP (source: Friedman, Monetary Trends of the United States and the United Kingdom), millions 1929 dollars:

1937 - 92,717
1938 - 85,391
1939 - 92,268
1940 - 101,176
1941 - 113,338
1942 - 130,978
1943 - 141,021
1944 - 142,919
1945 - 138,055

Coal output:

1939 - 404.9
1940 - 464.7
1941 - 515.0
1942 - 580.9
1943 - 586.2

Coal output increased by 45% while NNP increased by 52% from 1939 to 1943. They match more closely than the German figures (increase in coal output of 45% while GNP increased 77%), although the US didn't experience a increase in energy intensity like Germany did in WW1 (when coal output dropped 5% but GNP dropped 21%). Assuming the US energy intensity increased to be same degree as in Germany in WW1 would imply in an increase in energy intensity from 1939 to 1943 of 20%, so real NNP of the US would be 111,666 million 1929 dollars in 1943.

German coal production did not increase by 45 % in WWII .

[Guaporense]

Counting the annexed territories it did (as German GNP figures I posted to include all annexed territories).