economic changes in America

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Post-War Economic Changes in America
Essay Question 4
In the period after World War II, America consolidated its position as the wealthiest country in the world. The GDP recorded in 1960 was almost the triple of that registered in the 1940s (Williams 24). The number of middle-class Americans increased. The growth of the American Economy was experienced due to changes in areas like the industrial sector.
The automobile industry grew bigger than before, and its productivity was four times the rate that had been recorded before 1955 (Williams 31). The big corporations in the industrial sector opted to develop their holdings overseas where they could get cheaper labor. This industrial revolution saw the lives of workers change as many of them offered fewer goods and more services. Many held the white-collar jobs which helped bridge the gap between social classes even further.
Gains in the agricultural harvests increased, and farming was now becoming one of the biggest businesses. Farmers, on the other hand, were faced with a difficult situation as they could not handle the competition in the sector. Family farms were not at the level of the big corporations, and as such, several farmers decided to leave the land (Williams 42). It was also evident that many Americans moved out of the inner cities and sought residence in the new suburbs. Their main reason for going there was to find affordable housing to shelter the big families which about due to the post-war ‘baby boom.

‘ The growth of the suburbs meant that the consumer base had also grown in those areas; which prompted businesses to shift their attention to those places. The shopping centers grew from eight to over 3,000 by 1960s (Williams 54). The consumer pattern, therefore, changed as people were able to avoid the city entirely.
In conclusion, the American economy experienced a lot of improvements during the post-war period. The industrial sector, particularly the automobile industry, increased it productivity rate. The big corporations decided to move some of their companies to foreign lands where the labor would be cheaper. The workers who initially worked in these industries started providing more services and fewer goods. Looking at the consumer patterns, people opted to buy goods and services at the local stores rather than going to the city.
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Work Cited
Williams, Allan M. The Western European Economy (Routledge Library Editions: Economic Geography): A Geography of Post-war Development. Vol. 11. Routledge, 2015.