When did Angus Maddison die?
Angus Maddison died in 2010. His work continued to shape how economists understand the last two millennia of human history after his death.
Questions about The World Economy: Historical Statistics
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What year does Angus Maddison's dataset start?
Angus Maddison created a dataset that stretched back to the year 1 AD. This was the first time anyone had attempted to measure the gross domestic product of every major region on Earth for such a vast period.
When did the economic gap between Europe and Asia begin to widen?
A dramatic shift occurred after the 15th century when Europe began to pull ahead. By 1800, the absolute income levels in Asia had actually begun to shrink according to Maddison's data.
When did Asian economies begin to recover the ground they had lost?
Asian economies began to recover the ground they had lost starting in the 1950s. Japan emerged as a primary driver of this recovery transforming from a war-torn nation into an economic powerhouse within a single generation.
When did Russia experience severe economic shrinkage?
Maddison's statistics documented the severe economic shrinkage that occurred in Russia during the 1990s following the collapse of the Soviet Union. This period saw a sharp drop in living standards and economic output.
When was the Maddison Project launched?
The Maddison Project was launched in March 2010 to carry forward Angus Maddison's research. This project has expanded the original dataset and made the data available online for researchers and the public.