ESRI Research Seminars 2024/2025 Programme

The ESRI organises monthly research seminars, inviting researchers from institutions and universities to present new research. The seminar series provides access to specialised knowledge and new research methodologies, to promote research excellence and knowledge exchange.

Next seminar: Wednesday, 4 December at 14.00pm

Professor Bart van Ark, University of Manchester, research area Competitiveness, Trade and FDI

Title: Are Pro-productivity Policies Fit for Purpose?

Abstract 

For decades, many countries in the G-20 and beyond, have a applied a plethora of policies with the aim to support productivity growth. Whilst there are distinctly different productivity growth dynamics between groups of G-20 economies, labour productivity growth has broadly slowed since the 2010s underpinned by lower (or even negative) total factor productivity growth and weakening investment. Using a typology of pro-productivity policies, we argue that a revival of productivity growth in the G20 requires a greater focus on policies balancing technological progress with knowledge diffusion; more investment in intangibles and public assets; and improvements in the quality of human capital. We also argue for capabilities that allow for dynamic learning about pro-productivity policies across countries and over time.