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Productivity and Inflation

Author

Listed:
  • Tim Bulman

    (Reserve Bank of Australia)

  • John Simon

    (Reserve Bank of Australia)

Abstract

This paper examines the effect of inflation on productivity growth in Australia. Broad historical correlations suggest a negative relationship between inflation and aggregate productivity growth. The low-frequency nature of the relationship, however, means it is difficult to establish statistical causation at the aggregate level. We look at the industry-level relationships in an effort to overcome this limitation and to understand the relationship better. On this level we find clearly significant results with industry-level inflation explaining industry productivity. We also find that the relationship varies by industry, with the strongest evidence of a negative relationship being found in the cases of concentrated industries, i.e., those dominated by large firms. Finally, we find evidence that the negative effects of inflation on productivity do not operate solely through a reduction in capital accumulation but also through a reduction in multifactor productivity growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Tim Bulman & John Simon, 2003. "Productivity and Inflation," RBA Research Discussion Papers rdp2003-10, Reserve Bank of Australia.
    • Handle: RePEc:rba:rbardp:rdp2003-10
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    File URL: https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/rdp/2003/pdf/rdp2003-10.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Irene Brunetti & Davide Fiaschi & Lisa Gianmoena & Angela Parenti, 2017. "Volatility in European regions," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 96(4), pages 697-720, November.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    inflation; productivity; industrial structure;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D23 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Organizational Behavior; Transaction Costs; Property Rights
    • D24 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Production; Cost; Capital; Capital, Total Factor, and Multifactor Productivity; Capacity
    • E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation
    • L11 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Production, Pricing, and Market Structure; Size Distribution of Firms
    • L16 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Industrial Organization and Macroeconomics; Macroeconomic Industrial Structure

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