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Productivity in the slow lane?: the role of information and communications technology

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  • Alison Pearson
  • J. Christina Wang

Abstract

As the current recovery matures in the United States, evidence is mounting that total factor productivity (TFP), the typical measure of technological change, has moved back into the slow lane. This study uses industry data to explore the extent to which the acceleration in TFP in the late 1990s and early 2000s and the subsequent deceleration are attributable to unmeasured investment by firms to take full advantage of the new capabilities made possible by information and communications technology (ICT).

Suggested Citation

  • Alison Pearson & J. Christina Wang, 2014. "Productivity in the slow lane?: the role of information and communications technology," Current Policy Perspectives 14-10, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
  • Handle: RePEc:fip:fedbcq:2014_010
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    ICT; information technology; productivity: TFP; intangible capital; MFP;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E23 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Production

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