Gilded age Quote by Don Watkins
““Krugman himself acknowledges, “[T]he growth of the U.S. economy during the Long Gilded Age benefited all classes: Most Americans were much better off in the 1920s than they had been in the 1870s.”14””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Great Depression: America’s Economy in Crisis, 1929-1933 by Robert S. McElvaine, 2013
Krugman notes that the U.S. economy grew in the Long Gilded Age, lifting living standards for most Americans compared to the 1870s.
In simple terms: Economic growth in the 1920s improved lives for many.
Recognize how broad growth can lift multiple classes.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy analysis
- historical research
- education
- public discourse
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What groups benefited most from 1920s growth?
- How did the era’s prosperity affect later economic policies?
Growth benefits may be uneven and can mask underlying structural issues.