The Influence of Information and Communication Technologies on Labour Productivity and Total Factor Productivity in the Czech Republic

The article is devoted to the analysis of the impact of information and communication technologies (ICT) on labour productivity and total factor productivity in the Czech Republic focusing on the period between the years 1995 and 2011. The authors follow the international methodology adapted to the availability of a reliable dataset, and divide the ICT sector in the ICT manufacturing, ICT services and ICT-using sectors. The issue of the quality of data sources and individual indicators entering the analysis is discussed in detail. While in the period between the years 1995 and 2003 the influence of ICT services prevails in the period 2003 and 2011 the influence of ICT using sectors grew much stronger in comparison. In both periods the importance of ICT manufacturing industry is negligible, which is also caused by the methodology of estimation of gross value added and recalculation into constant prices, as well as the low share of value added on production in that sector. Overall, the impact of ICT on the national economic aggregates should not be overstated.