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Does Growing Mismeasurement Explain Disappointing Growth?

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Abstract

Slowing growth in U.S. productivity after 2004 is sometimes blamed on measurement problems, particularly in assessing the gains from innovation in IT-related goods and services. However, mismeasurement also occurred before the slowdown and, on balance, there is no evidence that it has worsened. Some innovations?such as free Internet services?have grown increasingly important, but they mainly affect leisure time. Moreover, the non-market benefits do not appear large enough to offset the effects of the business-sector slowdown.

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  • David M. Byrne & John G. Fernald & Marshall B. Reinsdorf, 2017. "Does Growing Mismeasurement Explain Disappointing Growth?," FRBSF Economic Letter, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.
  • Handle: RePEc:fip:fedfel:00119
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    1. David M. Byrne & John G. Fernald & Marshall B. Reinsdorf, 2016. "Does the United States Have a Productivity Slowdown or a Measurement Problem?," Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, Economic Studies Program, The Brookings Institution, vol. 47(1 (Spring), pages 109-182.
    2. Lee Parker, 2012. "The conference paper," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 25(1), pages 204-204, January.
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