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In this article, I analyze the determinants that explained the growth in productivity of 30 producing companies in the Cuban iron and steel industry during the period 2016-2019. The study contributes to the empirical literature on the factors that explain the economic performance in the Cuban industry, specifically the iron and steel industry, for which there is scarce evidence. The results show that, during this period, this industry is characterized by a decrease in production (-9.1%), due to the decrease in the factors labor and materials and a small increase in Total Factor Productivity (1.3%) and physical capital (0.7%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the contributions of the productive manufacturing sector is employment creation, strong linkages, and spill-over effects. It also accelerates long-term economic growth through targeted investment in productive capacity and manufacturing sector-driven growth. The study aims to investigate the main factors of total productivity of large and medium-scale manufacturing industries in Ethiopia from 2001 to 2017. Generalized Method of Moments of the econometric model system was applied to analyze the determinant factor of the total productivity of large and medium-scale manufacturing industries. The result confirmed that the loan provided to the manufacturing industries, the intensity of imported raw materials, human capital development, foreign direct investment, and infrastructure growth (road coverage) had a significant positive effect on the factor of productivity. Nevertheless, export intensity and macroeconomic instability(inflation) adversely affected the total factor of productivity. The descriptive analysis indicates that the number of firms, jobs created, and value-added per worker are increasing sustainably and are dominated by the agro-processing sector and mineral industries. However, there was no similar progress shown in manufactured exports. It affects by a shortage of supply of raw materials, weak infrastructure, absence of demand for products, and lack of working capital. The practical significance of this research allows creating a new idea of an investment that encouraged producers to improve efficiency and productivity using the result of the study. It also creates stable macroeconomic stability in the area of large and medium scale manufacturing industries and the country in general. Finally, it contributes significantly to the country’s economic growth and poverty reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study is to reveal the availability, the type and the rates of corporate growth in certain industrial companies. The role and the relative influence of the total factor productivity in this growth are also determined. The methods and the models of the production functions for analysis and forecasting are offered. Specific factors and opportunities for the increase rates of corporate growth are revealed. The decisive role of the total factor productivity for the development of industrial companies in Bulgaria is demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research and Development (R&D) investments are foundations for generating new knowledge through basic research and ultimately for generating products and services through applied research and commercialization. For this pay-off to happen and innovation-driven growth to flourish a successful R&D ecosystem is required. With current government support, R&D sector in India is all set to witness some robust growth in the coming years. Over the last decade researchers have emphasized the role of R&D expenditure in determining rate of growth of total factor productivity and hence in overall growth of an economy. Against this backdrop, the present study evaluates the extent to which R&D knowledge embodied in intermediate inputs is related to productivity at industry level in India. Industry-level Total Factor Productivity (TFP) with respect to R&D content of intermediates is computed for industries as a whole and for manufacturing sectors classified under high and low-R&D industries. A global input output matrix is used to separate total R&D content of intermediates into domestic and foreign R&D stocks. Using two way panel estimation, variation in TFP for twenty six industries for the years 2001, 2004 and 2007 are estimated as function of variations in domestic and foreign R&D content of intermediates. The study obtains much of the required data from GTAP databases – versions 6, 7 and 8 and from OECD Stan database, World Development indicators, India’s National Sample Survey Organization and its Department of Science and Technology. Results indicate that while industries, in general, as also manufacturing have shown increased productivity due to increased R&D in intermediate inputs, but it is the small scale low R&D sectors which are found to be the biggest beneficiaries. Particularly, the results point to the fact that it is the foreign R&D stock of inputs which have mainly contributed to improved productivity in these low R&D sectors. Thus, innovation by these sectors in the form of new machines, alternative materials, improved product quality etc. which they brought in via imports has resulted in their increased productivity. This finding is a contribution to existing literature which have mostly observed that that manufacturing output in general is responsive to R&D stock of intermediates. Large part of India’s population are employed in low R&D labor (mainly unskilled) intensive sectors. Thus, more R&D and innovation in these sectors via imported inputs may make them efficient in terms of value addition to output, employment and income and thus make innovation more inclusive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The article seeks to quantify the impact of information technology solutions on workers' productivity in the Brazilian processing industry. This study was based on a sample of 26,776 companies. This data was obtained from the Annual Industrial Study (PIA) and Industrial Survey of Technological Innovation (PINTEC), both of which were conducted by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE); the Annual Report on Social Information (RAIS) published by the Ministry of Labor (MTE); data from the Secretariat of Foreign Trade (SECEX) from the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade (MDIC); and the Foreign Capital Census published by the Central Bank of Brazil. The database was compiled and organized by the Institute of Applied Economic Research (IPEA). The estimated econometric cross-sectional model is for the year of 2003. The results indicate that the adoption of IT solutions positively affect personnel productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the productivity performance of China's industries 1987-2002, by means of a provincial panel. Productivity growth is decomposed into four components: technical progress, scale efficiezncy change, and improvements in technical and allocative efficiency. Although total factor productivity growth had been the second major contributor to industrial growth (after capital accumulation), it has been driven mainly by technical progress rather than efficiency improvement. The estimated stochastic production frontier function exhibits substantial economies of scale. Regional differences in technical progress are negligible, but differences in technical efficiency are statistically significant across regions. The restructuring of state-owned enterprises from the mid-1990s seems to have improved technical efficiency considerably, while the performance of allocative efficiency does not seem to be converging towards standard conditions for optimizing firms under perfect competition. Factor price distortions, like artificially cheap capital together with suppressed wage levels, might have been the driving forces behind China's capital-intensive industrial growth and technology-dependent productivity performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New Zealand shares a wealth of common interests and experiences with Australia. This has tempted some to assume that these economies form an ‘Economic Club’, in which one would expect to identify common aggregate trends and growth experiences. In this paper we present results that test, and generally reject, convergence in labour productivity across Australia and New Zealand, using both aggregate and disaggregate, industry‐level data. We find that only two industries satisfy our definition of Conditional Convergence (Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing and Cultural and Recreational Services), and that the Mining and Wholesale Trade industries have particularly important roles to play in explaining the measured divergence. Cointegration‐based tests reveal more stochastic trends governing Australian productivity than in New Zealand. The evidence suggests, therefore, that the underlying growth processes of the two economies are fundamentally different, thereby questioning the relevance of aggregate comparisons between them. New evidence using industry‐level data does not, therefore, resolve the aggregate‐level ‘non‐convergence puzzle’ identified here, and elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the dynamics of productivity in the Colombian manufacturing sector between 1981 and 2002. Total factor productivity (TFP) is estimated using semiparametric techniques and plant-level data. TFP did not fall during the 1980's or the 1990's when factors and inputs are properly measured and when appropriate econometric methods are used. Our study finds that the growth of TFP during the 1990's was larger than during the 1980's, partially due to the effects of the structural market reforms implemented in the early 1990's. Moreover, we show that the evolution of TFP has been determined by "inward openness" (i.e. high imports and/or low tariff and non-tariff barriers) and not by exports or export subsidies. Innovation in Colombia has been led by large firms, with large investments (or high capital-labor ratio) and low debt, and by firms operating in low-concentrated sectors. Finally, our results suggest that foreign direct investment was not a key factor for innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper estimates R&D depreciation rates for U.S. R&D intensive industries. R&D annually depreciates at; 18% for chemical products, 26% for nonelectrical machinery, 29% for electrical products, and 21% for transportation equipment. These depreciation rates lead to new estimates of the marginal (gross of depreciation) returns to R&D capital; 0.25 for chemical products, 0.31 for nonelectrical machinery, 0.34 for electrical products, and 0.27 for transportation equipment. R&D investment significantly contributed to productivity growth; virtually 100% in chemical products, 55% in nonelectrical machinery, 38 percent in electrical products, and 84% in transportation equipment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper examines the convergence process of industrial productivity between Chinese regions. Both σ- and β-convergences are investigated using a panel data set of 30 provinces and autonomous regions over the period 1985-1999. Unconditional σ- and β-convergence methods fail to detect productivity convergence over the whole sample period, although they suggest convergence during a sub-period 1985-1990. The estimates of a human capital enhanced production function, with the constant return to scale constraint, show that productivity gaps between Chinese regions declined during 1985-1999 with a rate of convergence of around 1.3% per annum. Similar results are also found when the data are disaggregated into three broader geographic regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to enhance the understanding of the relation between productivity and environment in the context of sustainable development, with a case study on the Romanian industry. The approach of this subject became of utmost necessity in turbulent times such as the one Romania is facing nowadays. Firstly, it provides a theoretical approach on sustainable development; secondly, it presents sustainable development as a key element in nations' growth and thirdly, it emphasis the aspects concerning the relation productivity - environment in the context of sustainable development, with a case study on the Romanian industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]