Time on the Cross

"Time on the Cross" is a book by economists Robert Fogel and Stanley Engerman that analyzed slavery in the United States using economic data. It challenged traditional views by suggesting that some enslaved people maintained certain levels of productivity and that slavery's economic efficiency was more complex. The authors argued that slavery was, in its own way, economically sustainable but also criticized for downplaying the brutality and human suffering involved. The book sparked debate by blending economic analysis with moral considerations, emphasizing that understanding slavery requires both numbers and compassion.