Between 1914 and 1969, weekly wages in manufacturing industries in the United States grew by a factor of 12. In the first half of the century, the most significant periods of increase came during the World Wars, as manufacturing industries were at the core of the war effort. However, wages then fell sharply after both World Wars, due to post-war recessions and oversaturation of the job market as soldiers returned home. Interwar period Wage growth during the interwar period was often stagnant, despite the significant economic growth during the Roarin' 20s, and manufacturing wages remained steady at around 24 dollars from 1923 to 1929. This was, again, due to oversaturation of the job market, as employment in the agricultural sector declined due to mechanization and many rural workers flocked to industrial cities in search of employment. The Great Depression then saw the largest and most prolonged period of decline in manufacturing wages. From September 1929 to March 1933, weekly wages fell from 24 dollars to below 15 dollars, and it would take another four years for them to return to pre-Depression levels. Postwar prosperity After the 1945 Recession, the decades that followed the Second World War then saw consistent growth in manufacturing wages in almost every year, as the U.S. cemented itself as the foremost economic power in the world. This period is sometimes referred to as the Golden Age of Capitalism, and the U.S. strengthened its economic presence in Western Europe and other OECD countries, while expanding its political and military presence across Asia. Manufacturing and exports played a major role in the U.S.' economic growth in this period, and wages grew from roughly 40 dollars per week in 1945 to more than 120 dollars by the late 1960s.

The statistic shows the U.S. total arms exports in 2023 expressed in TIV, by country. The TIV is based on the known unit production costs of a core set of weapons and is intended to represent the transfer of military resources rather than the financial value of the transfer. The TIV is expressed here in million constant U.S. dollars as of 1990. In 2023, the U.S. arms exports to Ukraine totaled to about 1.73 billion constant (1990) U.S. dollars. The depicted value is only an indicator and does not correspond to the actual financial value of the transfers.

The statistic shows total U.S. arms exports in the years 2000 to 2023expressed in TIV. The TIV is based on the known unit production costs of a core set of weapons and is intended to represent the transfer of military resources rather than the financial value of the transfer. The TIV is expressed here in million constant U.S. dollars as of 1990. In 2023, the U.S. arms exports totaled to about 11.29 billion constant (1990) U.S. dollars. The depicted export value is only an indicator and does not correspond to the actual financial value of the transfers.

The global military watch market, valued at $1878.8 million in 2025, is poised for significant growth. While the exact CAGR isn't provided, considering the robust demand driven by technological advancements, increasing military spending globally, and the rising popularity of tactical and durable timepieces among enthusiasts, a conservative estimate of a 5% CAGR over the forecast period (2025-2033) seems reasonable. This growth trajectory indicates a substantial market expansion, projecting a market size exceeding $2800 million by 2033. Key drivers include the demand for high-precision, rugged, and reliable timepieces within military operations, the integration of advanced features like GPS and communication capabilities, and the growing trend of specialized watches designed for specific military branches (navy, air force, ground forces). Furthermore, the market is segmented by watch type (quartz and mechanical) and application (military branches and enthusiasts), each contributing to the overall growth dynamics. The presence of established players like Bremont, Breitling and emerging brands continues to fuel competition and innovation within the sector, driving improvements in design, functionality, and affordability. Geographic distribution plays a crucial role in market growth, with North America and Europe currently representing significant market shares due to strong military presence and high disposable income. However, Asia Pacific is expected to witness considerable growth in the coming years, driven by increasing military modernization and a rising middle class with a preference for durable and technologically advanced watches. Constraints to market growth could potentially include the fluctuating global political landscape influencing military spending and the emergence of cheaper, alternative timekeeping devices. However, the overall long-term outlook for the military watch market remains optimistic, fueled by consistent demand from military personnel and a growing enthusiast community.

The current growing interest in the growth of the Western European economies between the end of World War II and the first oil crisis of 1973 is primarily due to the end of the Cold War and the subsequent demand for solutions for the economic problems of Central and Eastern European transition countries. It was and is discussed to what extent we could learn from the successful rebuilding of the Western European economies. In this context one area of special interest is the reconstruction of West Germany, closely accompanied by the principle of the social market economy. The recollection of this principle, and the call for a new Marshall Plan imply the idea that the Western European post-war boom in essence can be traced to a successful economic policy. It is shown how this assumption can stand up to a theoretical and empirical analysis. Using the new growth theory and the cointegration analysis both national (eg social market economy and Planification (i.e. macroeconomic framework development planning)) and international explanations (eg the Marshall Plan) of the so called ‘golden age’ are examined. It turns out that the impact of economic policies on economic growth must be put into perspective. In contrast, the importance of the different economic conditions of the countries for the explication of their growth process is underlined. Variables, inter alia:- Investment behavior of industry- Production and Export industry- Exchange Rates- Structure of the economies Data focus:Foreign trade structure, external value (foreign wholesale prices), export volume, industrial production, capital stock, long-term development (income, investment rates, openness, exchange rates), patents (patent applications in Germany, France). List of tables in the database HISTAT ZA:- Investment rates in four European countries (1880-1995)- Net fixed assets of the industry in Germany (1950-1968)- Sectoral Gross capital expenditures in Germany (1960-1976)- Sectoral Gross investment in France (1949-1965)- Export volume index of France and the Federal Republic of Germany (1950-1973)- Export volume in millions of current U.S. dollars (1951-1990)- Weighted exchange rate index in indirect rate (1950-1973)- Index of industrial production in Europe and North America (1950-1973)- Construction and equipment investment in Germany (1950-1968)- Investment rates in four European countries (1880-1995)- Sectoral gross and net capital stock in France (1950-1970)- Sectoral gross and net capital stock, investment in France (1950-1969)- Percentage of the French colonies in the French total exports (1950-1973)- Openness of four European economies (1880-1994)- Annual patent applications in the United States (1963-1995)- Real per capita income in Europe and the United States (1870-1992)- Regional structure of the French export value (1896-1973)- French sector gross investment (1960-1976)- Exchange rates in four European countries (1891-1995) Territory of investigation:Germany, France, further OECD-states. Sources:Publications of the official French and German statistics, publications of the OECD, USA and further states; scientific journals.

The United States had a market share of over 40 percent in international arms exports between 2020 and 2024. The second-largest suppliers of major weapons worldwide were France and Russia, accounting for 10 and eight percent of exports over the observed period, respectively. The United States, Russia, and France contributed 60 percent of major weapons exports between 2020 and 2024. Leading military spending countries Three decades after the end of the Cold War and the fall of the USSR, the United States is, by far, the largest defense spender in the world, even though the U.S. defense outlays have decreased since the peak of the Iraq and Afghan wars. However, China has increased military spending in the past decade, becoming the second-largest spender in the world, signaling a possible shift in the global balance of military power, and several European NATO members have increased military spending significantly after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war. Leading military importers Meanwhile, the market share of imports shows India and Saudi Arabia are the largest buyers. Saudi Arabia also spends the third most on its military as a percentage of gross domestic product, with Ukraine first.

In 2025, the lowest-ranking soldier in the South Korean military, the private second class, was paid 750,000 South Korean won per month. This was about half that of what a sergeant became. Military service in Korea Physically and psychologically healthy, South Korean men between the ages of 18 to 37 are required to serve mandatory military service for around 18 to 20 months. This mandatory service aims to ensure national security and defend against potential military threats from North Korea. Refusing compulsory military service can lead to legal consequences, although there are exemptions and alternatives. Defense industry in Korea The defense industry in South Korea has significantly grown in recent years and is also gaining more importance in the global defense market. South Korea is one of the top ten countries with the highest military spending. Additionally, the value of exports of the South Korean defense industry amounted to about 14 billion U.S. dollars. The country continues to invest in research and development (R&D) activities in the defense industry.