Workshop on Productivity in Eastern Europe and Central Asia,  October 31, 2005
AGENDA

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PANEL 1:  How Do We Measure Productivity?
Chair:        Ali Mansoor, Lead Economist, ECAVP

Speakers: 
Eric Bartelsman, Professor, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam
Alan Gelb, Director, Development Policy, DECVP
John Haltiwanger, Professor of Economics, University of Maryland

Commentators: 
Mary Hallward-Driemeier, Senior Economist, DECRG                       
Rosalinda Quintanilla, Lead Economist, ECSPE

Issues:   The measurement of productivity depends on its definition.  Productivity can be defined either as a gross output or a value added concept; it can encompass either a single factor (e.g., labor productivity) or multiple factors (total factor productivity).  What are the appropriate measures of productivity at the macroeconomic, industry, and firm levels?  What are the strengths and weaknesses of the different measures?  What data are most relevant for these measurements and how do we collect data for non-OECD countries? 

PANEL 2:  Is There a Job Growth – Productivity Tradeoff?
Chair:  Bernard Funck, Sector Manager, ECSPE

Speakers: 
Francesco Daveri, Professor of Economics, University of Parma, Italy 
Stefano Scarpetta, Lead Economist, HDNSP
Marva Corley, Economist, Employment Strategies Group, ILO, Geneva

Commentators: 
Sanjay Kathuria, Lead Economist, ECSPE
Arup Banerji, Sector Manager, ECSHD

Issues:   Theory tells us that productivity and employment growth exhibit a negative relationship.  Decreasing marginal returns to labor and skill heterogeneity of workers mean that the more labor is hired, the lower is its average productivity.  Besides, technological progress could make production more capital-intensive, thus reducing the demand for labor.  However, higher productivity decreases unit labor costs, which in turn increases the demand both for output and labor.  Do we observe the job growth – productivity tradeoff empirically?  What is the evidence, especially from the US and western Europe?  How can countries achieve higher productivity without compromising employment goals?  What policies and institutional arrangements would help in attaining both objectives?     

PANEL 3:  Firm and Farm-Level Dynamics and Productivity
Chair:   Simeon Djankov, Manager, CICMA

Speakers:
Jan Svejnar, Professor, University of Michigan
Benoit Blarel, Sector Manager, ECSSD
James Tybout, Professor, Pennsylvania State University
John Earle, Senior Economist, Upjohn Institute

Commentators:
Stefano Scarpetta, Lead Economist, HDNSP 
Marialisa Motta, Senior Private Sector Development Specialist, ECSPF

Issues:   Productivity growth is determined by many macroeconomic, sectoral, and micro-level factors.  Among these are production technology, asset ownership and property rights, market structure and competitiveness, corporate governance, firm and farm size, and trade openness.  What is the empirical evidence on factors driving firm and farm level productivity growth? What is the role of economic institutions and policies? 

PANEL 4:  What Are the Sectoral Drivers of Productivity Growth?
Chair:      Jean-Jacques Dethier, Research Manager, DECRS

Speakers:
Shahid Yusuf, Economic Adviser, DECRG 
Antonio Estache, Senior Adviser, INFVP 
Marcin Piatkowski, Advisor to Executive Director, IMF
William Maloney, Lead Economist, LCRCE 
Cem Mete, Senior Economist, ECSHD

Commentators: 
Christine Kessides,  Senior Adviser, TUDUR
Itzhak Goldberg, Lead Specialist, ECSPF 

Issues:   Many drivers of productivity growth are sectoral in nature.  The quality of infrastructure, the level of health and education of the labor force, and the role of  technology and innovation in the economy, can all contribute to the growth of overall productivity.  What is the evidence on sectoral drivers of productivity? What is the role of sectoral policies and institutions in fostering productivity growth?