GGDC Productivity Level Database: International Comparisons of Output, Inputs and Productivity at the Industry Level

In this paper we introduce the GGDC Productivity Level database. This database provides comparisons of output, inputs and productivity at a detailed industry level for a set of thirty OECD countries. It complements the EU KLEMS growth and productivity accounts by providing comparative levels and follows it in terms of country and industry coverage, variable definition and basic data (O?Mahony and Timmer, 2008). As such, the level and growth accounts can be used together in comparative analyses of productivity trends. The methodology followed is based on Jorgenson and Nishimizu (1985), but includes a number of refinements such as the use of sectoral output and input measures that exclude intra-industry flows; the application of multilateral indices; use of relative output prices from the production side and the use of the exante approach to capital price measurement. The paper outlines the construction and contents of the database and presents some empirical results. The GGDC Productivity Level database is publicly available at www.ggdc.net/databases/levels.htm.