PC productivity insights
Australia's productivity performance has a major influence on real per capita income growth. Productivity growth improves current living standards as well as the nation's capacity to address future challenges such as our ageing population and global economic shocks.
Despite the best efforts of statisticians and economists, the measurement and interpretation of productivity remains a challenge. The insights seek to demystify this commonly used, but easily misunderstood, concept.
Future editions of productivity insights will unpack the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) productivity statistics, and report on the findings of the Commission's most recent research into productivity issues.
Latest Bulletin
Quarterly productivity bulletin – December 2024
19 Dec 2024
The Bulletin unpacks the Australian Bureau of Statistics September quarter 2024 productivity statistics released in December and compares recent trends in productivity between Australia and the United States.
Latest research
Revisions to quarterly labour productivity growth
24 Oct 2024
This paper considers revisions to quarterly productivity growth estimates and finds that measured labour productivity does not approach a ‘true’ estimate; rather, the figure is consistently changing. In light of this, it discusses two possible options to interpret labour productivity data.
Productivity growth and wages – a forensic look
14 Sep 2023
This paper examines the evidence on whether wages have kept up with labour productivity in the past few decades.
Things you can’t drop on your feet: an overview of Australia’s services sector productivity
30 Nov 2022
This paper sheds light on the evolution of the services sector in Australia, busts some common misconceptions about services, and highlights the challenges associated with services productivity measurement and growth.
Australia’s long term productivity experience
19 Nov 2020
This paper describes Australia's long run economic history and highlights the role of productivity in driving living standards.
Can Australia be a productivity leader?
13 Mar 2020
This paper presents Australia’s relative levels of productivity and income compared with other advanced economies.
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