IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/presci/v102y2023i3p507-531.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A holistic approach of the labour productivity slowdown in the regions of the European Union

Author

Listed:
  • Maria Tsiapa

Abstract

Productivity growth reflects the efficiency and the improvements in prosperity of economies. The productivity slowdown that has emerged in many advanced countries jeopardizes their economic potential and social cohesion. This paper attempts to analyse the complex problem of productivity and detect the culprits in the European Union's productivity slowdown. From a holistic viewpoint, the paper explores a multidimensional context of socio‐economic and institutional factors, as well as the existence of spillover effects through a regional‐aspect compound analysis. Studying the productivity slowdown of NUTS 2 regions for the period 2000–2019 the analysis discerns four categories of factors that lead to valuable policy implications. El crecimiento de la productividad refleja la eficiencia y las mejoras en la prosperidad de las economías. La ralentización de la productividad que ha surgido en muchos países avanzados pone en peligro su potencial económico y su cohesión social. Este artículo trata de analizar el complejo problema de la productividad y detectar a los culpables de la ralentización de la productividad de la Unión Europea. Desde un punto de vista holístico, el documento explora un contexto multidimensional de factores socioeconómicos e institucionales, así como la existencia de efectos de spillover mediante un análisis compuesto de aspectos regionales. Mediante el estudio de la ralentización de la productividad de las regiones NUTS 2 durante el periodo 2000‐2019, el análisis distingue cuatro categorías de factores que conducen a valiosas implicaciones políticas. 生産性向上は、効率性と経済的繁栄の向上を反映する。先進国の多くで生産性が低下してきており、その国の経済的可能性と社会的結束が脅かされている。本稿では、生産性の複雑な問題を分析し、欧州連合における生産性の低下の原因を特定する。全体論的な観点から、地域的側面の複合分析により、社会経済的及び制度的要因の多元的な背景、さらには波及効果の存在を探る。2000~2019年におけるNUTS 2地域の生産性の低下を検討した分析から、価値ある政策的インプリケーションを導く要因には4つのカテゴリーがあることが分かる。

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Tsiapa, 2023. "A holistic approach of the labour productivity slowdown in the regions of the European Union," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 102(3), pages 507-531, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:presci:v:102:y:2023:i:3:p:507-531
    DOI: 10.1111/pirs.12734
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/pirs.12734
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/pirs.12734?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Julie Le Gallo & Sandy Dall’erba, 2006. "Evaluating the Temporal and Spatial Heterogeneity of the European Convergence Process, 1980–1999," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(2), pages 269-288, May.
    2. Ugo Fratesi & Andrés Rodríguez-Pose, 2016. "The crisis and regional employment in Europe: what role for sheltered economies?," Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 9(1), pages 33-57.
    3. Ciccone, Antonio & Hall, Robert E, 1996. "Productivity and the Density of Economic Activity," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 86(1), pages 54-70, March.
    4. Robert J. Gordon, 2016. "The Rise and Fall of American Growth: The U.S. Standard of Living since the Civil War," Economics Books, Princeton University Press, edition 1, number 10544.
    5. Andres Rodriguez-Pose & Riccardo regstdcenzi, 2008. "Research and Development, Spillovers, Innovation Systems, and the Genesis of Regional Growth in Europe," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 42(1), pages 51-67.
    6. Enrico Marelli & Marcello Signorelli & Joanna Tyrowicz, 2012. "Crises and Joint Employment–Productivity Dynamics: A Comparative Perspective for European Countries," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 54(2), pages 361-394, June.
    7. Duggal, Vijaya G. & Saltzman, Cynthia & Klein, Lawrence R., 2007. "Infrastructure and productivity: An extension to private infrastructure and it productivity," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 140(2), pages 485-502, October.
    8. Shahnazi, Rouhollah, 2021. "Do information and communications technology spillovers affect labor productivity?," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 342-359.
    9. Aghion, Philippe & Angeletos, George-Marios & Banerjee, Abhijit & Manova, Kalina, 2010. "Volatility and growth: Credit constraints and the composition of investment," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 57(3), pages 246-265, April.
    10. Giorgio Calcagnini & Germana Giombini & Giuseppe Travaglini, 2021. "The Productivity Gap Among Major European Countries, USA and Japan," Italian Economic Journal: A Continuation of Rivista Italiana degli Economisti and Giornale degli Economisti, Springer;Società Italiana degli Economisti (Italian Economic Association), vol. 7(1), pages 59-78, March.
    11. Jeremy Franklin & May Rostom & Gregory Thwaites, 2015. "The banks that said no: banking relationships, credit supply and productivity in the UK," Discussion Papers 1525, Centre for Macroeconomics (CFM).
    12. Riccardo Crescenzi & Andrés Rodriguez-Pose & Michael Storper, 2007. "The territorial dynamics of innovation: a Europe-United States comparative analysis," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 7(6), pages 673-709, November.
    13. Roberto Camagni & Roberta Capello & Giovanni Perucca, 2022. "Beyond productivity slowdown: Quality, pricing and resource reallocation in regional competitiveness," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 101(6), pages 1307-1330, December.
    14. Franklin, Jeremy & Rostom, May & Thwaites, Gregory, 2015. "The banks that said no: banking relationships, credit supply and productivity in the United Kingdom," Bank of England working papers 557, Bank of England.
    15. Lionel Artige & Rosella Nicolini, 2006. "Labor productivity in Europe: Evidence from a sample of regions," UFAE and IAE Working Papers 661.06, Unitat de Fonaments de l'Anàlisi Econòmica (UAB) and Institut d'Anàlisi Econòmica (CSIC).
    16. Sylvie Charlot & Gilles Duranton, 2006. "Cities and Workplace Communication: Some Quantitative French Evidence," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 43(8), pages 1365-1394, July.
    17. Hartwig, Jochen, 2012. "Testing the growth effects of structural change," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 23(1), pages 11-24.
    18. Andreas Breitenfellner & Antje Hildebrandt, 2006. "High Employment with Low Productivity? The Service Sector as a Determinant of Economic Development," Monetary Policy & the Economy, Oesterreichische Nationalbank (Austrian Central Bank), issue 1, pages 110-135.
    19. Mary Amiti, 1999. "Specialization patterns in Europe," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 135(4), pages 573-593, December.
    20. Germana Giombini & Francesco Perugini & Giuseppe Travaglini, 2017. "The productivity slowdown puzzle of European countries: a focus on Italy," Argomenti, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Department of Economics, Society & Politics, vol. 6(6), pages 1-20, January-A.
    21. Michael Greenstone & Richard Hornbeck & Enrico Moretti, 2010. "Identifying Agglomeration Spillovers: Evidence from Winners and Losers of Large Plant Openings," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 118(3), pages 536-598, June.
    22. Furceri, Davide & Kilic Celik, Sinem & Jalles, João Tovar & Koloskova, Ksenia, 2021. "Recessions and total factor productivity: Evidence from sectoral data," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 130-138.
    23. Philip Arestis, 2021. "UK and other advanced economies productivity and income inequality," International Review of Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(3-4), pages 355-370, July.
    24. Lourens Broersma & Jouke van Dijk, 2008. "The effect of congestion and agglomeration on multifactor productivity growth in Dutch regions," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 8(2), pages 181-209, March.
    25. Richard Blundell & Claire Crawford & Wenchao Jin, 2014. "What Can Wages and Employment Tell Us about the UK's Productivity Puzzle?," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 0(576), pages 377-407, May.
    26. Ron Boschma & Simona Iammarino, 2009. "Related Variety, Trade Linkages, and Regional Growth in Italy," Economic Geography, Clark University, vol. 85(3), pages 289-311, July.
    27. Palazuelos, Enrique & Fernández, Rafael, 2009. "Demand, employment, and labour productivity in the European economies," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 20(1), pages 1-15, March.
    28. Yannick Kalantzis, 2015. "Financial Fragility in Small Open Economies: Firm Balance Sheets and the Sectoral Structure," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 82(3), pages 1194-1222.
    29. Benhabib, Jess & Spiegel, Mark M., 1994. "The role of human capital in economic development evidence from aggregate cross-country data," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 34(2), pages 143-173, October.
    30. Mary O’Mahony & Ana Rincón-Aznar & Catherine Robinson, 2010. "Productivity Growth in Europe and the US: a Sectoral Study," Review of Economics and Institutions, Università di Perugia, vol. 1(1).
    31. Engelbert Stockhammer, 2004. "Financialisation and the slowdown of accumulation," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Oxford University Press, vol. 28(5), pages 719-741, September.
    32. Mason, Geoff & O'Mahony, Mary & Riley, Rebecca, 2018. "What is Holding Back UK Productivity? Lessons from Decades of Measurement," National Institute Economic Review, National Institute of Economic and Social Research, vol. 246, pages 24-35, November.
    33. Bart van Ark & Klaas de Vries & Kirsten Jäger, 2018. "Is Europe’s Productivity Glass Half Full or Half Empty?," Intereconomics: Review of European Economic Policy, Springer;ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics;Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), vol. 53(2), pages 53-58, March.
    34. Steffen Elstner & Lars P. Feld & Christoph M. Schmidt, 2018. "The German Productivity Paradox - Facts and Explanations," CESifo Working Paper Series 7231, CESifo.
    35. Elias Giannakis & Theofanis P. Mamuneas, 2022. "Labour productivity and regional labour markets resilience in Europe," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 68(3), pages 691-712, June.
    36. Lorena Škuflić & Marko Družić, 2016. "Deindustrialisation and productivity in the EU," Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(1), pages 991-1002, January.
    37. Valentinyi, Akos & Herrendorf, Berthold & Duernecker, Georg, 2017. "Structural Change within the Service Sector and the Future of Baumol's Disease," CEPR Discussion Papers 12467, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    38. Andrew Sharpe, 2004. "Ten Productivity Puzzles Facing Researchers," International Productivity Monitor, Centre for the Study of Living Standards, vol. 9, pages 15-24, Fall.
    39. Chris William Callaghan, 2022. "Lessons and insights from the global productivity slowdown: A research management agenda," African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(5), pages 1265-1273, July.
    40. Robert Vergeer & Alfred Kleinknecht, 2010. "The impact of labor market deregulation on productivity: a panel data analysis of 19 OECD countries (1960-2004)," Journal of Post Keynesian Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 33(2), pages 371-408, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. de Ridder, Maarten, 2016. "Investment in productivity and the long-run effect of financial crises on output," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 86180, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    2. Achille Flora & Roberta Arbolino, 2013. "Divari territoriali e politiche di sviluppo: lo squilibrio territoriale nella regione Campania," SCIENZE REGIONALI, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2013(1), pages 55-85.
    3. Fitjar, Rune Dahl & Rodríguez-Pose, Andrés, 2013. "Firm collaboration and modes of innovation in Norway," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(1), pages 128-138.
    4. Raffaele Paci & Emanuela Marrocu, 2013. "Knowledge Assets and Regional Performance," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(2), pages 228-257, June.
    5. Gilles Duranton & Diego Puga, 2020. "The Economics of Urban Density," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 34(3), pages 3-26, Summer.
    6. Dimitris Skuras & Kostas Tsekouras & Efthalia Dimara, 2011. "Deciphering the effects of agglomeration economies on firms' productive efficiency," ERSA conference papers ersa11p696, European Regional Science Association.
    7. Goldin, Ian & Koutroumpis, Pantelis & Lafond, François & Winkler, Julian, 2020. "Why is productivity slowing down?," MPRA Paper 99172, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Emanuela Marrocu & Raffaele Paci, 2011. "Education or just Creativity: what matters most for economic performance?," ERSA conference papers ersa11p199, European Regional Science Association.
    9. Francesco Manaresi & Nicola Pierri, 2018. "Credit supply and productivity growth," Temi di discussione (Economic working papers) 1168, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    10. David Morris & Enrico Vanino & Carlo Corradini, 2020. "Effect of regional skill gaps and skill shortages on firm productivity," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 52(5), pages 933-952, August.
    11. Francesco Manaresi & Nicola Pierri, 2018. "Credit supply and productivity growth," BIS Working Papers 711, Bank for International Settlements.
    12. Ron Boschma, 2018. "The geographical dimension of structural change," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 1839, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Nov 2018.
    13. Francesco Manaresi & Mr. Nicola Pierri, 2019. "Credit Supply and Productivity Growth," IMF Working Papers 2019/107, International Monetary Fund.
    14. Bloom, Nicholas & Hassan, Tarek Alexander & Kalyani, Aakash & Lerner, Josh & Tahoun, Ahmed, 2021. "The diffusion of disruptive technologies," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 113870, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    15. Emanuela Marrocu & Raffaele Paci & Stefano Usai, 2013. "Productivity Growth In The Old And New Europe: The Role Of Agglomeration Externalities," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(3), pages 418-442, August.
    16. Andrés Rodríguez-Pose & Riccardo Crescenzi, 2008. "Mountains in a flat world: why proximity still matters for the location of economic activity," Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 1(3), pages 371-388.
    17. Gabriel M. Ahlfeldt & Stephen J. Redding & Daniel M. Sturm & Nikolaus Wolf, 2015. "The Economics of Density: Evidence From the Berlin Wall," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 83, pages 2127-2189, November.
    18. Neil Foster & Robert Stehrer, 2009. "Sectoral Productivity, Density and Agglomeration in the Wider Europe," Spatial Economic Analysis, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 4(4), pages 427-446.
    19. Andrés Rodríguez-Pose & Fabrice Comptour, 2010. "Do clusters generate greater innovation and growth? An analysis of European regions," Working Papers 2010-15, Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados (IMDEA) Ciencias Sociales.
    20. Lewis, Ethan & Peri, Giovanni, 2015. "Immigration and the Economy of Cities and Regions," Handbook of Regional and Urban Economics, in: Gilles Duranton & J. V. Henderson & William C. Strange (ed.), Handbook of Regional and Urban Economics, edition 1, volume 5, chapter 0, pages 625-685, Elsevier.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:presci:v:102:y:2023:i:3:p:507-531. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=1056-8190 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.