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Comparing economic performance in the presence of diversity

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  • Keith Smith

Abstract

International performance comparisons are very attractive to policy-makers, with good reason. In the absence of any practical criteria for judging optimal performance, cross-country comparisons offer one of the few ways in which policy-makers can assess performance outcomes of policy measures and economic processes. This paper explores some dimensions and implications of diversity for inter-country comparisons. There are serious difficulties in formulating hypotheses free of unwarranted assumptions, in interpreting cross-country indicators, and in comparing countries through official statistics. Comparisons can be useful and productive, but need to take heterogeneity into account, using interpretative care to distinguish between real differences and statistical or indicator artefacts. Copyright , Beech Tree Publishing.

Suggested Citation

  • Keith Smith, 2001. "Comparing economic performance in the presence of diversity," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 28(4), pages 267-276, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:scippl:v:28:y:2001:i:4:p:267-276
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.3152/147154301781781417
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    Cited by:

    1. Havas, Attila, 2005. "Terminology and Methodology for Benchmarking Foresight Programmes," MPRA Paper 77791, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Markus Balzat, 2003. "Benchmarking in the Context of National Innovation Systems: Purpose and Pitfalls," Discussion Paper Series 238, Universitaet Augsburg, Institute for Economics.
    3. Paasi, Marianne, 2002. "Economics of Collective Benchmarking - Learning in Research and Innovation Policy," Discussion Papers 836, The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy.
    4. Markus Balzat, 2002. "The Theoretical Basis and the Empirical Treatment of National Innovation Systems," Discussion Paper Series 232, Universitaet Augsburg, Institute for Economics.
    5. John A. Cotsomitis, 2022. "The Learning Economy Regime," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 13(1), pages 687-722, March.

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