productivity
Reports on productivity See all →
Opinion: Liechtenstein’s use of blockchain may upend the finance industry
One of Europe’s smallest states is writing a whole new book on harnessing the potential of blockchain technology to modernize the finance industry. There are still challenges to tackle, but the innovative legalization and approach to implementation could give the Principality of Liechtenstein pole position in this race.
Measuring prosperity: The quest to replace GDP
For years, gross domestic product (GDP) has been the dominant metric for evaluating a country’s economic progress. Recently, however, it has come under criticism for not including factors such as equality or environmental sustainability. Replacing it is a tricky task that relies on a lot of subjective judgments. But if ...
A Swiss answer to the Covid-19 crisis: Focus on liquidity
Switzerland devised an ingenious way to throw a lifeline to its enterprises during the pandemic-induced crisis. Its “liquidity facility” targets the core segment of the economy, relies on business owners’ sense of responsibility and does not burden the country’s public finances with intolerable debt.
Relevance beyond the crisis: Growth after the lockdown
The economic consequences of the coronavirus mostly derive from lockdowns. Shutting down production, especially, is responsible for the downturn. The shock has kept people from spending, of course – but only temporarily. Saving now is only spending put off for another day. Policies intended to discourage that saving could backfire. ...
Surprising surge: Productivity during the Covid-19 crisis
Among the developed nations in Europe and North America, productivity growth had been on a steady decline over recent years. The Covid-19 crisis brought a sharp change in that trend, with some countries seeing an increase in productivity by more than 20 percent. It was a surprising result, especially with ...
