Recent Productivity Developments in the World Economy: An Overview from The Conference Board Total Economy Database

The recession left its mark on global productivity, which fell in 2009. The productivity growth differential between the United States and Europe increased dramatically in 2009. Average long-term growth of labour productivity in advanced economies has stalled since 2000. The gradual improvement in world productivity is due to emerging and developing economies. In particular the long-term increase in TFP growth reflects a strengthening of the efficiency with which emerging and developing economies use labour and capital in productive economic activity.