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A Sectoral Analysis of Ontario's Weak Productivity Growth

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  • Peter S. Spiro

Abstract

Since 2005, labour productivity growth in Ontario’s business sector has been zero, greatly under-performing the rest of Canada and being single-handedly responsible for most of what has been described as “Canada’s dismal productivity growth.” This article examines the issue through detailed sectoral data, and finds a wide range of variation underlying the average productivity growth rate. Some important sectors have maintained decent productivity growth. Other sectors, especially manufacturing, saw the level of productivity decline significantly. Empirical evidence suggests that weak aggregate demand – due to the high Canadian dollar, the U.S. recession, and global restricting- was the main cause of weak productivity. Weak demand led to lost economies of scale, particularly due to compositional shifts in the economy

Suggested Citation

  • Peter S. Spiro, 2013. "A Sectoral Analysis of Ontario's Weak Productivity Growth," International Productivity Monitor, Centre for the Study of Living Standards, vol. 25, pages 20-35, Fall.
    • Handle: RePEc:sls:ipmsls:v:26:y:2013:2
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    File URL: http://www.csls.ca/ipm/26/IPM-26-Spiro.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. John Baldwin & Beiling Yan, 2012. "Export Market Dynamics and Plant-Level Productivity: Impact of Tariff Reductions and Exchange-Rate Cycles," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 114(3), pages 831-855, September.
    2. W. Erwin Diewert & Emily Yu, 2012. "New Estimates of Real Income and Multifactor Productivity Growth for the Canadian Business Sector, 1961-2011," International Productivity Monitor, Centre for the Study of Living Standards, vol. 24, pages 27-48, Fall.
    3. Andrew Sharpe & Eric Thomson, 2010. "Insights into Canada’s Abysmal Post-2000 Productivity Performance from Decompositions of Labour Productivity Growth by Industry and Province," International Productivity Monitor, Centre for the Study of Living Standards, vol. 20, pages 48-67, Fall.
    4. John Baldwin & Beiling Yan, 2012. "Export Market Dynamics and Plant-Level Productivity: Impact of Tariff Reductions and Exchange-Rate Cycles," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 114(3), pages 831-855, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Andrew Sharpe & Bert Waslander, 2014. "The Impact of the Oil Boom on Canada's Labour Productivity Performance," CSLS Research Reports 2014-05, Centre for the Study of Living Standards.
    2. Evan Capeluck, 2016. "A Comparison of Productivity Developments in Canada and Australia: Lessons for Canada," International Productivity Monitor, Centre for the Study of Living Standards, vol. 30, pages 43-63, Spring.
    3. Matthew Calver, 2015. "Closing the Aboriginal Education Gap in Canada: Assessing Progress and Estimating the Economic Benefits," CSLS Research Reports 2015-03, Centre for the Study of Living Standards.
    4. Andrew Sharpe & Bert Waslander, 2014. "The Impact of the Oil Boom on Canada's Labour Productivity Performance, 2000-2012," International Productivity Monitor, Centre for the Study of Living Standards, vol. 27, pages 40-63, Fall.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • F41 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Open Economy Macroeconomics
    • D24 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Production; Cost; Capital; Capital, Total Factor, and Multifactor Productivity; Capacity
    • L60 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - General

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