Межстрановые Различия В Душевых Ввп И Производительности Труда: Роль Капитала, Уровня Технологий И Природной Ренты[International differences in per capita GDP and labor productivity: role of capital, technological level and resource rent]

Using level accounting methodology this article examines sources of per capita GDP and labor productivity differences between Russia and developed and developing countries. Analysis concentrates on the assessment of role of the following determinants in per capita GDP gap: per hour labor productivity, number of hours worked per worker and labor-population ratio. The task of quantitative assessment of the role of such factors as human capital, capital-labor ratio and technological level (multifactor productivity) in Russia-to-developed-countries labor productivity gap is solved for the first time in literature. It is shown that labor productivity difference is the main reason of Russia`s lagging behind. Next, it is found that 41-49% of 3-time labor productivity gap between Russia and developed countries (US, Canada, Germany) is explained by lower capital-to-labor ratio and the latter 47-57% of gap is due to lower technological level (multifactor productivity, MFP). Human capital level in Russia is almost the same as in developed countries, so it explains only 2-5% of labor productivity gap. Exclusion of resource rent from GDP leads to more pessimistic estimates of Russian productivity: labor productivity drops from 35% to 27% to US level, while technological level (MFP) drops from 55% to 43% to US level in 2011 year. Methodological developments in data used (such as data on hours worked, human capital, resource rent and current PPPs) result in more precise estimates of Russian labor productivity and technological level.