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Are Productivity Levels Higher in Some European Countries than in the United States?

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Author Info
Gilbert Cette ()

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Abstract

Estimates produced by the OECD indicate that labour productivity levels are higher in a number of European countries than in the United States, implying that Europe and not the United States is the world technological leader. The author argues that a structural measure of labour productivity, closer to a measure of technical efficiency, would take into account the much lower employment rates and hours of work in Europe. Low employment rates reflect the exclusion of certain low-porductivity groups such as the young and older workers from the labour force. Shorter average hours of work mean that workers experience less fatigue and are more focused when on the job. Consequently, the author argues that there are diminshing returns to the employment rate and hours of work in terms of productivity and that once these effects are taken into account, the United States reemerges as the world technology leader as manifested by labour productivity levels.

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Publisher Info
Article provided by Centre for the Study of Living Standards in its journal International Productivity Monitor.

Volume (Year): 10 (2005)
Issue (Month): (Spring)
Pages: 59-68
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Handle: RePEc:sls:ipmsls:v:10:y:2005:4

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Related research
Keywords: Productivity Growth Productivity Labour Productivity Human Capital Work Hours Organization Organizational Change Organizational Innovation Europe United States

Find related papers by JEL classification:
O32 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Technological Change - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
D24 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Production; Capital and Total Factor Productivity; Capacity
L80 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - General
M53 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting - - Personnel Economics - - - Training
M12 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting - - Business Administration - - - Personnel Management; Executive Compensation
O51 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - U.S.; Canada
O52 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Europe

Cited by:
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  1. Bourlès, Renaud & Cette, Gilbert, 2005. "A comparison of structural productivity levels in the major industrialised countries," MPRA Paper 7330, University Library of Munich, Germany. [Downloadable!]
  2. Andrew Sharpe, 2006. "Lessons for Canada from International Productivity Experience," CSLS Research Reports 2006-02, Centre for the Study of Living Standards. [Downloadable!]
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This page was last updated on 2008-7-21.

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