productivity
Reports on productivity See all →
Examining Latin America’s ‘puzzle’ of low growth
Why do Latin American countries remain mired in sluggish economic growth? Economists have addressed the question with reams of analysis, but the answer is simple: low productivity. That in turn, has been caused by government involvement in the economy that has stifled competition and innovation. The real puzzle is what it will take for the region to change course.
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 ...
The specter of secular stagnation
Despite considerable technological innovation in recent years, many Western democracies have been plagued by sluggish growth and productivity. There is no widespread consensus among economists on what causes the trend, with some advocating for more government spending and redistribution while others favor less government intervention and fiscal imbalance and a ...
