Productivity in the OECD Countries: A Critical Appraisal of the Evidence

Author/Editor:

César Calderón

Publication Date:

June 1, 2001

Electronic Access:

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Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary:

The failure of the neoclassical growth model to account for differences in output per worker across countries has suggested that these differences should be driven by cross-country differences in total factor productivity (TFP). This paper discusses various measures of productivity and its determinants for the OECD countries from different dimensions: (i) the measurement perspective; (ii) evidence on the evolution of productivity levels across OECD countries; and (iii) a critical review of the theoretical and empirical issues regarding the determinants of cross-country productivity differentials.

Series:

Working Paper No. 2001/089

Subject:

English

Publication Date:

June 1, 2001

ISBN/ISSN:

9781451851281/1018-5941

Stock No:

WPIEA0892001

Pages:

27

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