Procyclical labour productivity: A closer look at a stylized fact

Hart, R.A. and Malley, J.R. (1999) Procyclical labour productivity: A closer look at a stylized fact. Economica, 66(264), pp. 533-550. (doi: 10.1111/1468-0335.00187)

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Publisher's URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1468-0335.00187

Abstract

At 4-digit United States manufacturing industry level, we find evidence suggesting that the stylized fact of procyclical labour productivity should be treated with great caution. We use the NBER Manufacturing Productivity database to investigate the relationship between hourly labour productivity and real output for 450 industries for the years 1958–91. Labour productivity is significantly procyclical in 63% of industries and acyclical in 36%. In the latter respect, a high proportion of investment goods industries display acyclical productivity. Cross-section regressions are carried out that seek to explain the interindustry distribution of cyclicality. The analysis attributes a significant role to variations in materials costs, as a proxy for fluctuations in factor utilization.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Malley, Professor Jim
Authors: Hart, R.A., and Malley, J.R.
College/School:College of Social Sciences > Adam Smith Business School > Economics
Journal Name:Economica
Publisher:Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
ISSN:0013-0427
ISSN (Online):1468-0335
Published Online:03 March 2003

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