From: Gerald Levy (jerry_levy@verizon.net)
Date: Mon Jun 02 2008 - 14:09:58 EDT
> I ought to read more of your books because I am still puzzled by the whole concept > of "productivity" in all its facets. The problem you see is that Kuznets wrote in the > 1930s-1960s but this is the 21st century and we badly need new concepts. Hi Jurriaan: Yes, but there _is_ a quite extensive literature (primarily) in mainstream economics since the 60's about issues in productivity measurement. Other than issues associated with intellectual property rights, there have been lively debates about measuring productivity in the service sectors of the economy including (but not limited to) public employees. Much of this literature is from the 1970s - so already is rather old. You might ask why its important to measure the productivity of labor of public employees? Well, it's important from the perspective of the state because of ongoing efforts to increase public employee productivity through increasing labor intensity. Productivity statistics are also used in negotiations with trade unions in the private sector and unions are hit over the head with them and (especially in the 1980's) told that they must make 'concessions' so that firms can maintain 'competitiveness' (another buzzword from the 80's and since). This requires that economists employed by unions get their hands dirty digging into the numbers and how they are calculated. I would say, in general, that any numbers on productivity released by corporations, corporate think-tanks, and manufacturers associations should be treasted with a high degree of scepticism. In solidarity, Jerry _______________________________________________ ope mailing list ope@lists.csuchico.edu https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/ope
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