Global economic growth was flat for 1700 years before 1700, rising just 0.1% annually. Then things sped up fast.
Between 1700 and 1820, growth jumped to 0.5% a year. The Industrial Revolution took off with spinning jennies and steam engines fueling the surge. By the late 19th century, growth climbed to 1.9%.
The 20th century accelerated even more, averaging 2.8% annual growth, doubling production every 25 years. Growth stopped being slow. It turned into a steady, speeding norm.
