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Recent productivity outcomes and Australia’s potential growth

Author

Listed:
  • Robert Ewing

    (Treasury, Government of Australia)

  • Sian Fenner

    (Treasury, Government of Australia)

  • Steven Kennedy

    (Treasury, Government of Australia)

  • Jyoti Rahman

    (Treasury, Government of Australia)

Abstract

In recent years, employment has grown strongly while output has grown modestly. This implies a weak growth in labour productivity that is difficult to interpret. In this article, we explore some possible explanations for recent economic growth and labour productivity outcomes, with a focus on developments in the composition of growth. We also examine whether recent productivity outcomes hold any implications for the Australian economy's potential growth rate. We find that recent weak growth in output and strong growth in labour are indeed unusual when compared with previous experiences. However, we also find that the uncommon circumstances surrounding Australia’s mining boom explain some of the output and labour conundrum.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert Ewing & Sian Fenner & Steven Kennedy & Jyoti Rahman, 2007. "Recent productivity outcomes and Australia’s potential growth," Economic Roundup, The Treasury, Australian Government, issue 3, pages 49-71, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:tsy:journl:journl_tsy_er_2007_3_2
    as

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    File URL: http://archive.treasury.gov.au/documents/1304/PDF/03_Recent_productivity_outcomes.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hodrick, Robert J & Prescott, Edward C, 1997. "Postwar U.S. Business Cycles: An Empirical Investigation," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 29(1), pages 1-16, February.
    2. Ben Dolman & Lan Lu & Jyoti Rahman, 2006. "Understanding productivity trends," Economic Roundup, The Treasury, Australian Government, issue 1, pages 35-52, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Neil Dias Karunaratne, 2015. "The Productivity Paradox and the Australian Mining Boom and Bust," Research in World Economy, Research in World Economy, Sciedu Press, vol. 6(1), pages 1-19, March.
    2. Adam Young & Joann Wilkie & Robert Ewing & Jyoti Rahman, 2008. "International comparison of industry productivity," Economic Roundup, The Treasury, Australian Government, issue 3, pages 45-61, October.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    capacity; capital; economic growth; labour; productivity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D24 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Production; Cost; Capital; Capital, Total Factor, and Multifactor Productivity; Capacity
    • G31 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Capital Budgeting; Fixed Investment and Inventory Studies
    • L11 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Production, Pricing, and Market Structure; Size Distribution of Firms
    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence

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