Introduction to special issue of explorations in economic history on the impacts of World War II on the U.S. economy

World War II was one of the greatest crises in American history. The United States devoted an enormous amount of resources to fight the war with long range consequences for the economy. This is the introduction to a special issue on the impact of the U.S. involvement in World War II. It provides context for the papers in the issue. The papers address the experiences of veterans of various races and ethnicities later in life; the impact of the war on the longevity of black veterans and citizens; war programs devoted to providing care and education to young children; war bonds and their impact on the financial system; the influence of pipeline projects on development; the effect of wage regulations on the income distribution, and the effect of war mobilization on productivity gains at the national and regional levels.