On the basis of a new series on the consumption of traditional and modern sources of energy between 1820 and 1913, this article addresses the start of modern growth and the great divergence on the world scale. Since the beginning of the nineteenth century, the greater availability of modern energy sources expanded working capacity well beyond the potential of previous agricultural civilizations. Growth of energy consumption rose primarily in western Europe, northern America, and Oceania. As a result, labour productivity rose, leading to an increase in real wages, which was an incentive to replace labour with mechanical engines. The higher energy consumption in these three macro‐areas led to global inequality in productive capacity and technology which peaked on the eve of the First World War.

中文翻译：

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限制因素：能源，增长和分歧，1820-1913年

在1820至1913年间有关传统和现代能源消耗的新系列的基础上，本文论述了现代增长的开始和世界范围的巨大分歧。自19世纪初以来，现代能源的更多使用扩展了工作能力，远远超出了以前农业文明的潜力。能源消耗的增长主要出现在西欧，北美和大洋洲。结果，劳动生产率提高，导致实际工资增加，这是用机械发动机代替劳动力的诱因。在这三个大区域中较高的能耗导致了全球生产能力和技术的不平等，这种不平等在第一次世界大战前夕达到顶峰。