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Why is Productivity Growth in the Euro Area so Sluggish?

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  • Mr. Marcello M. Estevão

Abstract

Slow productivity growth has plagued the euro area since the mid-1990s. That is particularly striking in view of the large productivity gains in the United States during the same period. This paper shows that the deceleration in labor productivity in the euro area was caused by structural changes in wage formation that have affected the relative price of labor, increased the labor intensity of growth and, thus, reduced the rate of capital deepening. Technological shocks seem to have played a minor role in explaining slower productivity growth in the euro area. In addition, a surge in capital deepening and, mainly, TFP growth in key service industries in the United States explain a large part of the productivity growth gap between the two regions in the second half of the 1990s.

Suggested Citation

  • Mr. Marcello M. Estevão, 2004. "Why is Productivity Growth in the Euro Area so Sluggish?," IMF Working Papers 2004/200, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2004/200
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Matteo Deleidi & Walter Paternesi Meloni & Antonella Stirati, 2018. "Structural change, labour productivity and the Kaldor-Verdoorn law: evidence from European countries," Departmental Working Papers of Economics - University 'Roma Tre' 0239, Department of Economics - University Roma Tre.
    2. Klaus Weyerstrass & Johannes Jaenicke, 2011. "Is more competition conducive to the macroeconomic performance in the euro area?," Empirica, Springer;Austrian Institute for Economic Research;Austrian Economic Association, vol. 38(3), pages 351-380, July.
    3. Pierre-Alain Muet, 2006. "Impacts économiques de la révolution numérique," Revue économique, Presses de Sciences-Po, vol. 57(3), pages 347-375.
    4. Andrea Brasili & Loredana Federico, 2008. "Recent Developments in Productivity and the Role of Entrepreneurship in Italy: An Industry View," Rivista di Politica Economica, SIPI Spa, vol. 98(2), pages 179-214, March-Apr.
    5. Repkine, Alexandre, 2009. "Telecommunications Capital Intensity and Aggregate Production Efficiency: a Meta-Frontier Analysis," MPRA Paper 13059, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Linehan, Suzanne & McQuinn, Kieran, 2008. "A Sectoral Analysis of the Average Work Week in Euro Area Countries," Quarterly Bulletin Articles, Central Bank of Ireland, pages 68-88, October.
    7. Rosella Nicolini, 2011. "Labour productivity in Spain: 1977-2002," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(4), pages 465-485.
    8. Lionel Artige & Rosella Nicolini, 2006. "Labor Productivity in Europe: Evidence from a Sample of Regions," Working Papers 285, Barcelona School of Economics.
    9. Marcello M. Estevão, 2007. "Structural changes and labor productivity slowdown in the Euro Area," Revista ESPE - Ensayos sobre Política Económica, Banco de la Republica de Colombia, vol. 25(53), pages 336-367, January.
    10. Enrico Saltari & Giuseppe Travaglini, 2009. "The Productivity Slowdown Puzzle. Technological and Non-technological Shocks in the Labor Market," International Economic Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(4), pages 483-509.
    11. Giorgio Calcagnini & Germana Giombini & Enrico Saltari, 2009. "Firms? Investment in the Presence of Labor and Financial Market Imperfections," Working Papers 0901, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Department of Economics, Society & Politics - Scientific Committee - L. Stefanini & G. Travaglini, revised 2009.
    12. Lionel Artige & Rosela Nicolini, 2007. "Evidence on Determinants of Foreign Investments: the Case of Three European Regions. A revised Version," CREPP Working Papers 0706, Centre de Recherche en Economie Publique et de la Population (CREPP) (Research Center on Public and Population Economics) HEC-Management School, University of Liège.
    13. Ms. Silvia Sgherri, 2005. "Long-Run Productivity Shifts and Cyclical Fluctuations: Evidence for Italy," IMF Working Papers 2005/228, International Monetary Fund.
    14. Camilleri, Silvio John & Falzon, Joseph, 2013. "The Challenges of Productivity Growth in the Small Island States of Europe: A Critical Look of Malta and Cyprus," MPRA Paper 62489, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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