In Ms. McCloskey's view, this shift in perceptions was central to the economic take-off of the West.

WSJ: Cultural Conversation: The New Theories of Moral Sentiments

Their (occasional) efforts to do so impoverish already destitute people, and blight their hopes of economic take-off.

ECONOMIST: For this relief, some thanks | The

Their disagreements laid out, Mr Clinton flew home via Ukraine, where he saw lots of American flags but little sign of an economic take-off.

ECONOMIST: Russia and the United States: Best of foes | The

Before we answer this, one needs to revisit the American Economic Historian W.W. Rostow who in the sixties had suggested that countries passed through 5 stages of economic development as Traditional Society, Transitional Stage, Take-off, Drive to Maturity and High Mass Consumption.

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Eventually productivity did take off--but even the Bush Administration's own Council of Economic Advisers dates the beginning of that takeoff to 1995.

FORBES: Debunking Reagan's Debunker