Description: This chart shows the top presidencies since 1929 arranged by average annual GDP growth.
Sources: BEA
Last updated: March 29, 2015
Description: This chart shows the top presidencies since 1929 arranged by average annual GDP growth.
Sources: BEA
Last updated: March 29, 2015
Top Presidencies for GDP Growth
Discussion: The top presidents' average annual GDP growth rates are as follows:
| FDR | 9.29% |
| LBJ | 4.93% |
| JFK | 4.37% |
| Clinton | 3.88% |
| Reagan | 3.50% |
| Carter | 3.30% |
Obviously, it is noteworthy that 5 of the 6 best have been Democrats. Also, it is plainly striking how dramatically FDR outperformed every other president.
One thing that I find interesting about this data is how dramatically differently the public perceives some very modest differences in our rate of economic growth. For example, much of the public believes that the economic growth was "terrible" under Carter and "great" under Reagan, but the economy actually grew at almost identical rates during those two presidencies (3.3% vs. 3.5%). It is hard to imagine that the typical American could actually detect the difference between a GDP growth rate of 3.3% and 3.5% while going about their day-to-day lives.
In case you are wondering, the worst president for GDP growth was, of course, President Hoover with an -5.38% average.
See more graphs about: GDP
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