The origins of American industrial success: Evidence from the US portland cement industry

Prentice, David (2008): The origins of American industrial success: Evidence from the US portland cement industry.

Abstract

The contributions of innovations, factor endowments and institutions to American industrialization are examined through analysing the rise of the American portland cement industry. Minerals abundance contributed in multiple ways to the spectacular rise of the industry from the 1890s. However, the results of a structural econometric analysis of entry suggests geological surveys, institutions highlighted by David and Wright, played a contributing rather than critical role in the American portland cement industry overcoming incumbent European portland cement and American natural cement producers.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: American Economic History; Empirical Industrial Organization; Portland Cement
• Subjects: N - Economic History > N5 - Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment, and Extractive Industries > N51 - U.S. ; Canada: Pre-1913; L - Industrial Organization > L6 - Industry Studies: Manufacturing > L61 - Metals and Metal Products ; Cement ; Glass ; Ceramics; N - Economic History > N0 - General; L - Industrial Organization > L1 - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance > L10 - General; N - Economic History > N6 - Manufacturing and Construction > N61 - U.S. ; Canada: Pre-1913

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