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muriel_volestrangler

(106,163 posts)

3. It's close; average annual GDP growth under Carter 3.3%, Reagan 3.5%

Sun Aug 23, 2015, 06:47 AM

Aug 2015

GDP growth figures take inflation into account, so these are valid comparisons, even if inflation was higher in the 70s than 80s (which is true for most developed countries, not just the USA).

http://useconomy.about.com/od/GDP-by-Year/a/US-GDP-History.htm

Taking Carter as the years 1977-80, it's 4.6%, 5.6%, 3.2%, -0.2% = average 3.3%
Reagan 1981-88: 2.6%, -1.9%, 4.6%, 7.3%, 4.2%, 3.5%, 3.5%, 4.2% = average 3.5%

(you get the same average figures for arithmetic means of the simple growth figures, and geometric means for the chained total GDP figures these imply, if anyone's interested)

Not a significant difference, I'd say.

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Is it true that the economy grew better under Carter than Reagan [View all] gabeana Aug 2015 OP

Most likely, yet Sherman A1 Aug 2015 #1

Yes, because Paul Volcker had not destroyed the economy yet. roamer65 Aug 2015 #2

It's close; average annual GDP growth under Carter 3.3%, Reagan 3.5% muriel_volestrangler Aug 2015 #3

Thanks for the link and the #'s gabeana Aug 2015 #4

Conservatives forget how devastating the recession of 1980-1981 was JCMach1 Aug 2015 #5

Carter, like Obama, inherited a steaming bag of crap A HERETIC I AM Aug 2015 #6

Actually, most Democratic presidents inherit a steaming bag of crap tabasco Aug 2015 #7

Point well taken. n/t A HERETIC I AM Aug 2015 #9

I have to doubt it Reter Aug 2015 #8

much of the difference is how the growth was DISTRIBUTED: Reagan MisterP Aug 2015 #10

Yes. The economy has never grown under a GOP president. Rex Aug 2015 #11

Not the debt or deficits though... Motown_Johnny Aug 2015 #12