Trends In Productivity



Productivity, defined as a measure of the amount of output per hour of work, is shown to be typically pro-cyclical. This means that productivity increases during economic upswings and slows down (or even declines) when the economy is in a downturn.

Several causes have been forwarded to sustain this. One declares that labor and capital inputs are worked harder during boom times than in busts. Another observation pronounces that the reallocation of resources to more productive activities is faster when the economy grows rapidly than when it slows down.

Pro-cyclical exceptions

For 2009, productivity growth was expected to slow down further in many countries. However, there appeared to be some exceptions to the pro-cyclicality of labor productivity.

The experiences of the United States and Europe are two examples reflecting this economic wrinkle. Compared side by side, striking differences are evident between these two regions in terms of the productivity growth rates with which they entered the current recession.

For the long period of 2000-2008, labor productivity in the United States increased at 2% against 1.5% in the European Union. (The 1.1% figure is even much smaller in the original EU-15 member states that exclude the new member states from Central and Eastern Europe.)

These differences reflect a more efficient use of capital, labor, and other sources of growth in the United States. The most recent productivity advances of the U.S. have been realized, however, through rapid layoffs. This further suggests that the productivity of the remaining workers and firms is actually strengthening.

Traditional productivity growth rates

During the run-up of 2008, the Euro Area showed a surprisingly weak productivity growth (below 1%). This was attributed to the large increases in employment coming from a relatively large labor reserve pool.

In the same quarter, output and productivity growth rates in the Euro Area turned negative following the traditional pattern that employment growth does not adjust as quickly to a deteriorating economy in Europe as it does in the U.S.

Presently, productivity growth rates in advanced economies are falling below historical structural productivity trends. These represent the rate where productivity can grow.

To get back to the structural growth trend, an increased productivity through investment in new capital and innovation is needed - and not just through cost-cutting of the current resource base.

This would comprise investments in technological change and innovation, skill and performance level of the labor force, and all the organizational intangibles (management and workplace practices, organizational structure, ICT applications and human resource strategies).

Given the current constrained economic climate, all these are big challenges. Added to this is the expectation that high productivity growth rates also imply greater efficiency of resources once the economic environment improves.

Productivity growth will also translate into high levels of output per hour. These higher productivity levels will also reflect the presence of a strong resource base in terms of human and physical capital per worker.

When maintained during the downturn, they will provide the firms with the means to more easily innovate themselves out of the recession resulting in a better resurgent productivity growth.

Veritas Editorial Team

niche marketing

"Men are often capable of greater things than they perform. They are sent into the world with bills of credit, and seldom draw to their full extent."
Walpole



Comments

Atlast, hopefully for atleast one year make this program free, as microsoft, the minute they understand the program is good, they will start charging the users.

Thanks for such nice program.

August - By replica louis vuitton handbags - Homepage
9th April 2011 - 9:59pm

If I do the former, is it outrageous enough? Do the one-liners work? If the latter, are the characters strong enough to let the comedy flow or is it actually just very boring
Lunette oakley - By Bertra - Homepage
14th April 2011 - 9:49pm

Somalia, so migrating to the West has been nothing less than a miracle, where I was able to rebuild my shattered life and pursue my higher education.
Tiffany Bangle - By Tiffany Bangle - Homepage
4th May 2011 - 12:56am

You may be overestimating a little bit here, but I definitely agree with you on European hypocrisy.
Prada Handbags Sale - By Prada Handbags Sale - Homepage
5th May 2011 - 10:26pm

Indeed Nick. An obvious observation but no less moot for that. Shows that when assessing the merits of new voting systems
christian louboutin - By christian louboutin - Homepage
8th May 2011 - 3:14am

Ireland have Jedward, we're sending Blue, but given past outcomes, what can we do?!
fitflop shoes - By fitflop shoes - Homepage
26th May 2011 - 9:16pm

I think its a great idea to get other people involved with F1, and as you stated, there's a lot more to it than just going round in circles.
Abercrombie and fitch uk store - By Abercrombie and fitch uk store - Homepage
20th June 2011 - 3:15am

I think you have a point with some of those stats but for me this is an important world championship because its the one before Olympic year.
replica audemars piguet - By replica audemars piguet - Homepage
7th July 2011 - 9:30pm

They should move to Mogadishu which is where they are desperately needed.
Ralph Lauren Polo Shirts - By Ralph Lauren Polo Shirts - Homepage
20th July 2011 - 2:31am

*Name:
*Email:
Website URL:
Title / Subject:
Hide my email
*Comments:
*
 



Menu


My Articles






My Articles


Increased Productivity Via Unified Communications
... exchange information, and being able to access the web ...

Getting Started In Increasing Productivity
... don t want other people to finish before you. To be ...

The Importance Of Labor Productivity Growth
... per capita income. In real terms, this is not exactly ...

How To Increase Your Productivity At The Office
... workstation. Is your office table always too crowded? ...



Related Videos:

Related News:

 
Productivity is hard work, not just cost-cutting - Sydney Morning Herald

    

Sydney Morning Herald

Productivity is hard work, not just cost-cutting
Sydney Morning Herald
AS ROSS Gittins pointed out in his piece earlier this week, "Let productivity debate be productive", if we are indeed serious about improving our standard of living, the debate about what needs to be done to address our productivity problem is critical ...

and more »



Small business group's report rips paid sick days as job killer - Boston Herald

    

Globe and Mail

Small business group's report rips paid sick days as job killer
Boston Herald
By Kyle Cheney / State House News Service Legally mandated paid sick days for workers would stamp out billions of dollars worth of productivity and potentially 16000 jobs over five years, according to a new report issued by a small-business advocacy ...
US report rips paid sick-day benefitsGlobe and Mail

all 8 news articles »



Related Products:


Ultimate Productivity Video Course

    No wonder 9 in every 10 businesses fail every 5 years! But everyone wants to stay out of that statis...


Pay A Professional

    Stop SLAVING away at the PC day and night trying to get one task done!.. Super-Charge Your Productiv...