Croissance et technologies de l'information en France et aux États-Unis

The strong American growth is considered as mainly coming from the diffusion of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). It is at the root of the « new economy » concept. Good theoretical arguments support the thesis of a new technological paradigm, such as those delivered by General Purpose Technologies models. The most recent empirical data have provided some compelling evidence. Between the first and second half of the nineties, both labour and total factor productivity have clearly accelerated in the United States. ICT have strongly contributed to this pattern. We still lack of evidence for such an acceleration in France. But estimations made with disaggregated sectoral data reveal a strong impact of ICT on productivity. Surprisingly, reorganisation does not seem to play a crucial role. The « French productivity paradox » could well soon fade.