The author argues that productivity should be raised by bringing the low productivity segment of the workforce closer to the median. Consequently, he argues that the most pressing task for Canadians is to foster basic skills, reduce the high school dropout rate, and raise the profile of...

Estimates produced by the OECD indicate that labour productivity levels are higher in a number of European countries than in the United States, implying that Europe and not the United States is the world technological leader. The author argues that a structural measure of labour productivity,...

In this article, Jeffrey I. Bernstein of Carleton University, Richard G. Harris from Simon Fraser University, and Andrew Sharpe from the Centre for the Study of Living Standards provide a comprehensive analysis of the widening of the Canada-US manufacturing productivity gap. Since 1994, labour...

A key lesson from the U.S. literature on the impact of ICT on productivity is that ICT can only be effective if appropriate organizational structures are in place. This article by Surendra Gera of Industry Canada and Wulong Gu of Statistics Canada provides Canadian evidence to support this view....

The productivity performance of the construction sector in Canada over the last quarter century has been dismal, with output per hour lower in 2000 than in 1977. In this article Andrew Sharpe from the Centre for the Study of Living Standards examines productivity trends in this sector and...

This paper argues that a focus on the human capital needs of the bottom third of the workforce is the most effective way to boost productivity, while at the same time creating a more equitable labour market. Given the unmet demand for adult learning on the part of the disadvantaged, he proposes...

The measurement of productivity is a complex task. The OECD has recently released a comprehensive manual or guide to the measurement of industry-level and aggregate productivity. In the fifth article, Paul Schreyer from the OECD and the author of the OECD productivity manual provides an overview...

Since 1995, productivity growth has accelerated significantly in the United States. Information technology has always been thought to be the driving force behind this development. In this article by Kevin Stiroh of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York provides strong empirical support for this...

International productivity comparisons have traditionally focused on productivity growth rates. International productivity level comparisons are much more complex, requiring comparable industry data and estimates of purchasing power at a detailed industry level. The International Comparisons of...

This seventh issue of the International Productivity Monitor produced by the Centre for the Study of Living Standards contains seven articles. Topics covered include the long-run economic performance and prospects in Canada, the impact of capital accumulation on productivity growth in Canada,...