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Productivity: a history of its measurement

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  • Malcolm Abbott

Abstract

Productivity has long been an important concept in economics. Despite this long history, the full quantification of productivity dates back largely to work undertaken by economists in the middle part of the twentieth century. The purpose of the paper, therefore, is to describe the origins of the concept in general and in particular the efforts to develop the means to quantify it. To a significant degree, the economic issues that have arisen, as well as general developments in economic theory have influenced the development of productivity quantification efforts.

Suggested Citation

  • Malcolm Abbott, 2018. "Productivity: a history of its measurement," HISTORY OF ECONOMIC THOUGHT AND POLICY, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2018(1), pages 57-80.
    • Handle: RePEc:fan:spespe:v:html10.3280/spe2018-001003
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    JEL classification:

    • B10 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought through 1925 - - - General
    • B20 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought since 1925 - - - General
    • D24 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Production; Cost; Capital; Capital, Total Factor, and Multifactor Productivity; Capacity

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