Jon Cohen

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Jon Cohen is a leading economic historian whose research explores the intricate relationship between technological change and long-run productivity growth. His work challenges conventional narratives by demonstrating that the recent productivity slowdown in Canada and the United States is not merely a cyclical phenomenon, but is rooted in a decline in the commercialization of new technologies. In his highly cited 2018 paper, "Will the new technologies turn the page on U.S. productivity growth?" (6 citations), Cohen examines whether emerging innovations can reverse this trend. His follow-up study, "Canadian Productivity Growth, Secular Stagnation, and Technological Change" (2 citations), provides a rigorous empirical analysis linking Canada’s productivity slump to a fall-off in technology adoption, using novel book-based indicators to track technological change over time. Cohen’s contributions are vital for understanding the structural forces shaping modern economic growth, offering a nuanced perspective on secular stagnation. His innovative methodologies and historical insights make him a key voice in debates over innovation policy and the future of productivity in advanced economies.