Finance

Financial economics

Economics

Political science

Equity (law)

Computer security

Computer science

Monetary economics

Bond

Asset (computer security)

Rate of return

The Quarterly Journal of Economics

What is the aggregate real rate of return in the economy? Is it higher than the growth rate of the economy and, if so, by how much? Is there a tendency for returns to fall in the long run? Which particular assets have the highest long-run returns? We answer these questions on the basis of a new and comprehensive data set for all major asset classes, including housing. The annual data on total returns for equity, housing, bonds, and bills cover 16 advanced economies from 1870 to 2015, and our new evidence reveals many new findings and puzzles.

The Rate of Return on Everything, 1870–2015*