Unraveling the Productivity Growth Slowdown in the United States, Canada and Japan: The Effects of Subequilibrium, Scale Economies and Markups

1992 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine J. Morrison
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Productivity Growth ◽  
Scale Economies ◽  
The United States

Economic Policy

2019 ◽  
pp. 173-195
Author(s):  
William Keech ◽  
William Scarth
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Economic Growth ◽  
Economic Policy ◽  
Fiscal Policy ◽  
Income Distribution ◽  
Political Institutions ◽  
Productivity Growth ◽  
The United States ◽  
Economic Policies ◽  
Sustainable Fiscal Policy

This chapter identifies the differing policies and outcomes that Canadians and Americans have pursued with respect to economic growth, stabilization, and income distribution, and it analyzes several factors that can partially explain why divergent policy choices have emerged. The United States (U.S.) has recorded better productivity growth, while Canada has achieved a more sustainable fiscal policy, a less fragile financial sector, and more generous distributional policies. These contrasting outcomes are related to differences in size and geography, in political culture, and in political institutions. The analysis also considers how much it may be possible for each country’s policymakers to benefit from the other’s experiences. While identifying some lessons in this regard, the authors conclude that the sheer difference in the size of the two economies affects which economic policies can be expected to be effective. As a result, it is concluded that convergence in economic policymaking will remain somewhat limited.

scholarly journals The Procyclical Behavior of Total Factor Productivity in the United States, 1890–2004

2010 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 326-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander J. Field
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Total Factor Productivity ◽  
Productivity Growth ◽  
The United States ◽  
Real Business Cycle ◽  
Factor Productivity ◽  
Tfp Growth ◽  
Capital Services ◽  
Labor Hoarding ◽  
Statistical Artifact

Between 1890 and 2004 total factor productivity (TFP) growth in the United States has been strongly procyclical, while labor productivity growth has been mildly so. This article argues that these results are not simply a statistical artifact, as Mathew Shapiro and others have argued. Procyclicality resulted principally from demand shocks interacting with capital services which are relatively invariant over the cycle. This account contrasts with explanations emphasizing labor hoarding as well as those offered by the real business cycle (RBC) program, in which TFP shocks (deviations from trend) are themselves the cause of cycles.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document