Over the past decade, the importance of deepening our understanding of productivity and turning that knowledge into actionable advice for policy makers has become more crucial than ever. A generalised decline in growth rates for most economies in the context of major environmental, political and demographic challenges was already apparent in 2015, as the OECD's Global Forum on Productivity (GFP) was being established. Since then, these concerns have increased, and the GFP has well contributed to the reflexions on how to address new major structural challenges. In this context, the role of the GFP is key.
While the recent surge of practical applications of artificial intelligence (AI) holds the promise of revitalising productivity, its effects are not yet fully evident and materialised. Beyond its potential to drive productivity gains, AI also raises important concerns about equitable access to technology and the need for effective re-skilling. In this decisive moment, the critical choices made by Governments will be pivotal in determining whether this new technology proves a force for good after all. Hence, the quest for sound policies, and the avoidance of ill-informed ones, is of the outmost importance.
Raising productivity is not easy in the short term, especially in high-income countries, where low-hanging fruits must have already been picked. This means the discernment of good policies requires permanent, methodical and rigorous analytical work, powered by appropriate theoretical and empirical tools. In this respect, the OECD provides both the institutional support and a favourable environment for this kind of policy-oriented research.
Identifying which policies are likely to succeed is only half of the endeavour. Such knowledge has a real impact only when it is widely discussed, shared and promoted. Therefore, the GFP strives to communicate its findings through frequent high-level gatherings, including its Annual Conference, workshops and other in-person and remote events. Over the past ten years, the Forum has therefore provided a unique platform where data, ideas and lessons learned from successful reforms are exchanged, turning them into powerful drivers for better policies.
This book is part of the GFP's efforts to communicate its findings. Drawing on a decade of research, it compiles a selection of six working papers, each one based on analysis of the best available micro-data. With contributions from Christophe André, Dan Andrews, Filippo Cavassini, Chiara Criscuolo, Yann Dorville, Francesco Filippucci, Peter Gal, Katharina Laengle, Timo Leidecker, Luca Marcolin, Giuseppe Nicoletti and Jonathan Timmis, this sample represents the GFP's core priorities and deals with some of the most pressing issues for productivity policies of the last ten years.
Even though the range of topics covered is wide, including the dynamics of firm heterogeneity, internationalisation, human capital, technological adoption and institutional frameworks, they are all deeply interconnected and form part of a coherent picture: good policies in different areas have compound effects, and bottlenecks must be addressed through careful and targeted interventions that strengthen institutions and enhance market outcomes.
As we celebrate the 10th anniversary, with this publication, the GFP reaffirms its commitment to innovative research and policy collaboration aimed at unlocking sustainable and inclusive productivity growth in an ever-changing economic environment.
The co-chairs of the GFP Steering Group:
Rodrigo Krell
Executive Director, National Evaluation and Productivity Commission, Chile
Stefan Profit
Deputy Director General, Economic Policy Department, German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy
Ottavio Ricchi
Director General, Treasury Department, Ministry of Economy and Finance, Italy
Ihssane Slimani Houti
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Treasury Department, Ministry of Finance, Economy, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, France