Collaboration between the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) and OECD towards Improved Productivity Statistics

 

Productivity growth is a central driver of long-term economic growth and living standards but, in recent years, its contribution to growth has declined significantly in most countries. The COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated this decline, from a statistical and a structural perspective, as heightened uncertainty impacts on investment and, despite government support packages, many firms remain closed and jobs are being lost. Reigniting the productivity engine is more important than ever if economies are to build back better, and achieve sustainable, inclusive and resilient growth. To move in this direction, effective policy decisions must rely on evidence-based economic analyses, making the compilation of accurate and comprehensive productivity statistics paramount.

Certain measurement challenges – for example, the measurement of the non-observed economy, non-observed employment, and the self-employed – are more severe in many APO economies, where these phenomena are more prevalent. The APO and the OECD have clear mutual interests in the productivity measurement space and started discussions on a body of collaborative work in early 2019. In October 2019, the APO and the OECD signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), as part of a collaboration to develop improved and more comparable productivity statistics across APO and OECD member economies. 

  

Progress to date

07 Nov 2022 - The second report discusses the potential impact of COVID-19 on productivity and examines the role of MFP as a major driver of economic growth and changes in living standards. It then identifies the most important factors influencing MFP growth and describes the most important challenges affecting the measurement of each of these factors as well as the estimation of their impact on MFP. The report provides key recommendations to improve the reliability and interpretation of the empirical evidence for economic analysis.

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The full report: Identifying the main drivers of productivity growth: A literature review

 

 

 

 

Watch the launch event

 

         

         

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14 Mar 2021 - The first report explores current practices and challenges in productivity measurement and provides recommendations to National Statistics Offices (NSOs), National Productivity Organisations (NPOs), and other agencies involved in the compilation and analysis of productivity statistics in APO member economies to improve measurement and cross-country comparability. These agencies are the principal audience for the report as they are best placed to provide the most reliable inputs for productivity measurement given their access to, and knowledge of, the best data sources in their economy.

Download here:

The full report: Towards Improved and Comparable Productivity Statistics

 

Data and charts used in the report

 

   

   

Data and resources

The OECD’s Productivity Database 
The OECD Productivity Compendium
The APO Productivity Databook and Database 

 

Contact us

For further information contact us at productivity.contact@oecd.org