In Western Europe between 1913 and 1950, a period that was dominated by the two world wars, the Great Depression, and the respective recovery periods, labor productivity grew at varying rates per country. When productivity (in terms of GDP per hour worked) is compared between these years, Sweden and Switzerland saw increases of approximately 170 percent, while West German productivity grew by just 25 percent. Of the selected countries, West Germany is the outlier as it was one of the Axis powers during the Second World War, and its recovery was accompanied by territorial losses and reparations (in the form of industrial assets and labor); between 1950 and 1955, however, West German recovery ended and productivity eventually grew to become the strongest in Europe.
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Cambridge University Press. (December 31, 2006). Labor productivity increase in select Western European countries in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) per hour worked from 1913 to 1950 [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 27, 2026, from /statistics/1239935/europe-labor-productivity-increase-gdp-per-hour-worked/
Cambridge University Press. "Labor productivity increase in select Western European countries in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) per hour worked from 1913 to 1950." Chart. December 31, 2006. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 27, 2026. /statistics/1239935/europe-labor-productivity-increase-gdp-per-hour-worked/
Cambridge University Press. (2006). Labor productivity increase in select Western European countries in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) per hour worked from 1913 to 1950. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 27, 2026. /statistics/1239935/europe-labor-productivity-increase-gdp-per-hour-worked/
Cambridge University Press. "Labor Productivity Increase in Select Western European Countries in Terms of Gross Domestic Product (Gdp) per Hour Worked from 1913 to 1950." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 31 Dec 2006, /statistics/1239935/europe-labor-productivity-increase-gdp-per-hour-worked/
Cambridge University Press, Labor productivity increase in select Western European countries in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) per hour worked from 1913 to 1950 ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1239935/europe-labor-productivity-increase-gdp-per-hour-worked/ (last visited July 27, 2026)
Labor productivity increase in select Western European countries in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) per hour worked from 1913 to 1950 [Graph], Cambridge University Press, December 31, 2006. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1239935/europe-labor-productivity-increase-gdp-per-hour-worked/
