Productivity

In a working paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, Jaedo Choi, et al., investigated the effect of “superstar” firms in South Korea during the so-called “miracle growth period.”

A working paper indicates that the rate of return on R&D is between 150 to 300 percent, implying that there has been historical underinvestment in R&D for nondefense use.

A recent working paper suggests that the Flemish SHC initiative to facilitate coordination between firms, research centers, and the government has had a positive impact on innovation.

A discussion paper suggests that ICT sectors have a positive association with a country’s productivity.

A recent commentary piece in the Washington Post argued that the main cause of strong productivity growth in 2023 was not artificial intelligence but rather a surge in new business creation. But that confuses correlation with causation.

Rob Atkinson speaks at a panel discussion to delve into his latest book, Technology Fears and Scapegoats.

Despite claims by anticorporate neo-Brandeisians, corporate concentration appears positively correlated with higher productivity and wages. So, the push to break up large companies is antiworker and anti-middle class.

Technologies and tech companies are accused of creating a myriad of societal problems. Technology Fears and Scapegoats exposes them as mostly myths, falsehoods, and exaggerations. It issues a clarion call to restore the West’s faith in technological progress.

Larger firms are generally more productive because of scale economies, but some U.S. industries still have too high a share of small firms. Policymakers should encourage, not discourage, greater consolidation in these industries.

Canada needs a productivity commission. But instead of emulating Australia’s model, which is driven by orthodox neoclassical economics, it should take guidance from “productionists” with a deep understanding of firm, industry, and technology dynamics.