Allen's logic seems a tad bit circular. High wages may have helped spur some demand for machines, but what caused Britain's relatively high wages in the first place?
Surely there were economic/political elements that caused higher wages that, in a synergistic fashion, created demand for machines and probably vice versa.
I wouldn't call it circular, but I agree that it's really just peeling back one layer of the onion, and it leaves big questions open. I addressed this a bit towards the end of my original book review
Allen's logic seems a tad bit circular. High wages may have helped spur some demand for machines, but what caused Britain's relatively high wages in the first place?
Surely there were economic/political elements that caused higher wages that, in a synergistic fashion, created demand for machines and probably vice versa.
I wouldn't call it circular, but I agree that it's really just peeling back one layer of the onion, and it leaves big questions open. I addressed this a bit towards the end of my original book review