Divergences in Productivity Between Europe and the United States: Measuring and Explaining Productivity Gaps Between Developed Countries (Ifo Economic Policy series)

Product Description In the 1990s, labour productivity growth accelerated in the United States, yet slowed down in other industrialised countries, reversing a three decade long tendency of convergence. The book explores this phenomenon. It first identifies the methodological and statistical problems involved in measuring productivity and making cross-country comparisons in this area. Then the role of factor accumulation for the diverging trends across the OECD world, with a particular focus on the dispersion of information and communication technology (ICT), is reviewed. In-depth studies of single countries provide further insights regarding growth trends in the United States, Japan, Germany, and France. Finally, empirical investigations regarding the determinants of productivity growth at an international level complement the analyses. The results stress that public infrastructure and education, employment rates and working hours, and ICT spending play an important role in explaining the existing differences in levels and changes of productivity. This comprehensive book, on recent research regarding international gaps in productivity growth, will be of great interest to policy advisors and academics, political decision-makers and students of economics, business administration, international business and international policy. About the Author Edited by Gilbert Cette, Director of Macroeconomic Analysis and Forecasting, Banque de France and Professor of Economics, University of Aix-Marseille II, France, Michel Fouquin, Advisor to the CEPII, Professor, FASSE Catholic University of Paris, France and Hans-Werner Sinn, President, Ifo Institute for Economic Research, Professor of Economics and Public Finance and Director, Center for Economic Studies, University of Munich, Germany