Productivity Key To Economic Success

The objective of this report is to provide a comprehensive overview of knowledge in the productivity field for policy makers and the general public interested in economic issues. Section one provides an overview of the fundamentals of productivity, with basic data on productivity trends and a review of the definition and measurement of productivity. Section two examines the determinants of productivity growth, including such factors as the natural resource base, industrial structure and intersectoral shifts, capital accumulation, technological change, labour quality, and the macro- and micro-economic environments. Section three synthesizes several of the key debates in the productivity literature, examining the productivity or computer paradox, the relationship between employment and productivity, and the link between productivity and international competitiveness. Section four briefly looks at actions and policies to improve productivity, with particular reference to ways to increase physical investment, develop human capital, and foster technological progress. Appendices include discussion of frameworks for analyzing productivity growth, additional issues in the productivity literature, and statistical and conceptual issues in productivity measurement.