Re:Survey shows people no longer believe working hard will l...
by tjs8rj on Tuesday June 15, 2021 @09:52AM
(#27515532)
Slavery was a blip compared to industrialization.
Slavery was frequent but led to minor growth in gdp (as evidenced by Columbus living at only twice the average standard of living of Jesus-times in 0 AD). Cheap labor perhaps even stalled industrialization, which lead to living standards doubling every 5-10 years during the fastest periods. Slavery was a better wealth generator for the slaveholders than nothing, but the idea that itβs some great wealth generator compared so what came after is ridiculous. Maybe 1% of the wealth of the US came from slavery, steam power is a much much larger chunk, and computing thereafter.
Slavery was frequent but led to minor growth in gdp (as evidenced by Columbus living at only twice the average standard of living of Jesus-times in 0 AD). Cheap labor perhaps even stalled industrialization, which lead to living standards doubling every 5-10 years during the fastest periods. Slavery was a better wealth generator for the slaveholders than nothing, but the idea that itβs some great wealth generator compared so what came after is ridiculous. Maybe 1% of the wealth of the US came from slavery, steam power is a much much larger chunk, and computing thereafter.