Productividad total de factores: Desempeño sectorial heterogéneo

Several studies estimate TFP for the Uruguayan economy at an aggregate level (Bucacos,2000; Blyde et al, 2004; Fossati et al, 2005; De Brum, 2004). Though they use generally similar estimation methodologies they find contradictory evidence. In this paper we discuss possible explanations to these contradictions, and provide a decomposition exercise of the Uruguayan economy sources growth from a sectoral perspective, using Törnqvist indices for manufacturing between 1988-2005 and for some service sectors (commerce and repairs; restaurants and hotels; transport and communications) for the 1997-2005 period. For the agricultural sector we reproduce estimations by Arancet and Calvete (2003). We obtain evidence about heterogeneity in the productive performance of the country’s key economic sectors, suggesting that TFP had a larger growth contribution in tradable sectors –manufacturing and agriculture, more exposed to competition, than those domestically oriented. The service sector, globally considered, has lagged behind this transformation, showing a smaller TFP contribution to growth than manufacturing and agriculture.