Unified Growth Theory Contradicted by the Absence of Takeoffs in the Gross Domestic Product

TL;DR

This paper analyzes historical economic growth data and finds no evidence of the 'takeoffs' from stagnation to growth as claimed by the Unified Growth Theory, challenging its core premise.

Contribution

It provides a critical data analysis that refutes the existence of the supposed growth takeoffs central to the Unified Growth Theory.

Findings

No empirical evidence of growth takeoffs in historical data

Unified Growth Theory's core claim is contradicted by data

Data used in theory were not properly analyzed before

Abstract

Data describing historical economic growth are analysed. They demonstrate convincingly that the takeoffs from stagnation to growth, claimed in the Unified Growth Theory, never happened. This theory is again contradicted by data, which were used, but never properly analysed, during its formulation. The absence of the claimed takeoffs demonstrates also that the postulate of the differential takeoffs is contradicted by data.