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A comparison of Structural Productivity Levels in the Major Industrialised Countries

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Author Info
Bourlès, R.
Cette, G.

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Abstract

Hourly labour productivity levels in a number of European countries are thought to be very close to, or possibly even higher than the level 'observed' in the United States. At the same time, however, there are big differentials between hours worked and/or employment rates in these countries and in the United States. Frequent mention is also made of the theory of diminishing returns to hours worked and the employment rate. The object of the analysis proposed here is to adjust the 'observed' levels of hourly productivity for the effect of the differentials (with the United States) in the hours worked and/or employment rates of several categories of the population of working age in order to calculate 'structural' hourly productivity. The results obtained confirm the diminishing returns to hours worked and the employment rate (especially where young and elderly people are concerned). The level of 'structural' hourly productivity appears to be highest in the United States, suggesting that the differential between per capita GDP in the European countries and in the United States is attributable to hours worked and employment rates being at lower levels, and also to lower 'structural' hourly productivity.

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Publisher Info
Paper provided by Banque de France in its series Documents de Travail with number 133.

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Length: 32 pages
Date of creation: 2005
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Handle: RePEc:bfr:banfra:133

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Related research
Keywords: Productivity ; employment rares ; working time ; ICTs ; well-being.;

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
E24 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomics: Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution
F01 - International Economics - - General - - - Global Outlook

References listed on IDEAS
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  1. Wu, De-Min, 1973. "Alternative Tests of Independence Between Stochastic Regressors and Disturbances," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 41(4), pages 733-50, July. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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    Other versions:
  3. Gust, Christopher & Marquez, Jaime, 2004. "International comparisons of productivity growth: the role of information technology and regulatory practices," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 11(1), pages 33-58, February. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  4. Nelson, Charles R & Startz, Richard, 1990. "The Distribution of the Instrumental Variables Estimator and Its t-Ratio When the Instrument Is a Poor One," Journal of Business, University of Chicago Press, vol. 63(1), pages S125-40, January. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
    Other versions:
  5. Olivier Blanchard, 2004. "The Economic Future of Europe," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 18(4), pages 3-26, Fall. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  6. Aubert Patrick & Caroli Eve & Roger Muriel, 2005. "New Technologies, Workplace Organisation and the Age Structure of the Workforce: Firm-Level Evidence," Research Unit Working Papers 0505, Laboratoire d'Economie Appliquee, INRA. [Downloadable!]
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  7. Judith K. Hellerstein & David Neumark, 2004. "Production Function and Wage Equation Estimation with Heterogeneous Labor: Evidence from a New Matched Employer-Employee Data Set," NBER Working Papers 10325, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  8. Étienne Wasmer, 2001. "Changements de composition de la force de travail et dualisme," Reflets et perspectives de la vie économique, De Boeck Université, vol. 0(1), pages 133-148. [Downloadable!]
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  11. Edward C. Prescott, 2003. "Why do Americans work so much more than Europeans?," Staff Report 321, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. [Downloadable!]
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  12. Nelson, C. & Startz, R., 1988. "Some Furthere Results On The Exact Small Sample Properties Of The Instrumental Variable Estimator," Discussion Papers in Economics at the University of Washington 88-06, Department of Economics at the University of Washington.
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Cited by:
(explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)

  1. Ian Dew-Becker & Robert J. Gordon, 2008. "The Role of Labor Market Changes in the Slowdown of European Productivity Growth," NBER Working Papers 13840, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
    Other versions:
  2. Hugo Erken & Piet Donselaar & Roy Thurik, . "Total Factor Productivity and the Role of Entrepreneurship," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 09-034/3, Tinbergen Institute. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  3. Bourlès, R. & Cette, G., 2006. "Trends in "structural" productivity levels in the major industrialized countries," Documents de Travail 156, Banque de France. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  4. Ellen McGrattan & Edward C. Prescott, 2007. "Openness, Technology Capital, and Development," NBER Working Papers 13515, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
    Other versions:
  5. Andrea Bassanini & Danielle Venn, 2008. "The Impact of Labour Market Policies on Productivity in OECD Countries," International Productivity Monitor, Centre for the Study of Living Standards, vol. 17, pages 3-15, Fall. [Downloadable!]
  6. Jean Pisani-Ferry, 2007. "Emploi, salaires, sécurité professionnelle : que peut-on attendre du débat politique ?," Reflets et perspectives de la vie économique, De Boeck Université, vol. 0(1), pages 129-139. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  7. Albert van der Horst & Hugo Rojas-Romagosa & Leon Bettendorf, 2009. "Does employment affect productivity?," CPB Discussion Papers 119, CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis. [Downloadable!]
  8. Richard Dion & Robert Fay, 2008. "Understanding Productivity: A Review of Recent Technical Research," Discussion Papers 08-3, Bank of Canada. [Downloadable!]
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