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Understanding productivity dynamics:a task taxonomy approach

Author

Listed:
  • Tiago Fonseca

    (World Maritime University; CEG-IST, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa)

  • Francisco Lima

    (CEG-IST, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa)

  • Sonia C. Pereira

    (Barnard College, Columbia University and Columbia School of Social Work)

Abstract

As job markets have been polarizing, firms have been changing their labor inputs.By using matched employer-employee data for Portugal, we examine whether labor market polarization has occurred within or across firms and how labor input upgrades have contributed to overall productivity growth. We develop a firm taxonomy based on worker’s occupational data. Firms can be focused on one task – Abstract, Manual or Routine – on a combination of tasks, or none. Results show that Abstract firms are the most productive and their share has increased over time. Manual firms, the least productive, have had a stable share throughout the period. Routine firms have seen their share decline over time. The dynamic decomposition of the estimated productivity reveal that productivity growth is propelled by increased market shares of the most productive incumbents and exiting of the least productive, especially for Abstract firms. Notwithstanding these productivity growth drivers, they fail to avert the productivity stagnation observed in Portugal between 2004 and 2009 due to the overall decline in productivity of incumbent firms, especially Routine. We discuss the policy implications of our results which are relevant to other European economies also lagging behind in terms of knowledge and innovation capabilities.

Suggested Citation

  • Tiago Fonseca & Francisco Lima & Sonia C. Pereira, 2017. "Understanding productivity dynamics:a task taxonomy approach," GEE Papers 0080, Gabinete de Estratégia e Estudos, Ministério da Economia, revised Sep 2017.
    • Handle: RePEc:mde:wpaper:0080
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    File URL: https://www.gee.gov.pt/RePEc/WorkingPapers/GEE_PAPERS_80.pdf
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Ge, Chunmian & Huang, Ke-Wei & Kankanhalli, Atreyi, 2020. "Platform skills and the value of new hires in the software industry," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(1).
    2. Fonseca, Tiago & Lagdami, Khanssa & Schröder-Hinrichs, Jens-Uwe, 2021. "Assessing innovation in transport: An application of the Technology Adoption (TechAdo) model to Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS)," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 182-195.
    3. Ruben Dewitte & Michel Dumont & Glenn Rayp & Peter Willemé, 2022. "Unobserved heterogeneity in the productivity distribution and gains from trade," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 55(3), pages 1566-1597, August.
    4. Fonseca, Tiago & de Faria, Pedro & Lima, Francisco, 2019. "Human capital and innovation: the importance of the optimal organizational task structure," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(3), pages 616-627.
    5. Marialuisa Divella & Alessia Lo Turco & Alessandro Sterlacchini, 2023. "Local labour tasks and patenting in US commuting zones," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 23(5), pages 1097-1119.
    6. Lo Turco, Alessia & Maggioni, Daniela, 2022. "The knowledge and skill content of production complexity," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(8).
    7. Minna Saunila & Juhani Ukko & Tero Rantala & Mina Nasiri & Hannu Rantanen, 2020. "Preceding operational capabilities as antecedents for productivity and innovation performance," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 90(4), pages 537-561, May.
    8. Alona Bilokha & Sudip Gupta, 2024. "Shareholder litigation rights and firm productivity," Financial Markets, Institutions & Instruments, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 33(2), pages 65-90, May.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D24 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Production; Cost; Capital; Capital, Total Factor, and Multifactor Productivity; Capacity
    • L23 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Organization of Production
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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