Abstract
The U.S. economy is embarking on a policy experiment to see if the slide in productivity performance can be reversed. This chapter provides some econometric exercises to review the record, suggest what is feasible, identify realistic goals, and help point the way toward desirable policies. It does not attempt to deal with every facet of our productivity performance. Little is said about such issues as the role of regulation in disrupting business progress, the shortsightedness of current business incentive systems, the diminished support of research and development efforts by both public and private sources, the diversion of top quality manpower