Weak productivity growth - A cyclical or structural phenomenon?

Abstract

"Labour productivity growth in Germany and in the OECD countries has decelerated significantly in recent years. This observation is astonishing, given the fact that modern digital services can now be found throughout the economy. It may be a statistical artefact, but if it is a realistic observation, it should be investigated. The authors describe many reasons for this development. For example, the services sector, with its traditionally low productivity, makes up an increasingly large part of the economy. Moreover, the cost intensity of innovations is growing, and there are not enough innovative investments. What should be done? Reforms are suggested which aim at exploiting unused potential and create suitable conditions for facilitating sustainable productivity increases. Important policy areas include digitisation, energy transition and demographic change. But reforms must also be thought of as investments into the capacity of employees to work productively." (Author's abstract, © Springer-Verlag) ((en))

Cite article

Weber, E., Elstner, S., Schmidt, C., Fritsche, U., Harms, P., Saam, M., Hartwig, J. & Krämer, H. (2017): Schwaches Produktivitätswachstum - zyklisches oder strukturelles Phänomen? Zeitgespräch. In: Wirtschaftsdienst, Vol. 97, No. 2, p. 83-102. DOI:10.1007/s10273-017-2090-9