U.S. labor and total-factor productivity growth slowed prior to the Great Recession. The timing rules explanations that focus on disruptions during or since the recession, and industry and state data rule out “bubble economy” stories related to housing or finance. The slowdown is located in...

This paper explores the relationship between capital composition and productivity using a unique and remarkably detailed data set on firm-level investment in the U.S. Using cross-sectional and longitudinal regressions, I find that several capital types, including computers, communications...

This paper argues that changes in workplace organization, including the usage of self-managed teams, incentive pay, and employee voice, have been a significant component of the turnaround in productivity growth in the United States during the 1990s. Our work goes beyond measuring the impact of...

Presentation to the California Chamber of Commerce, San Francisco, CA, December 2, 2005

Presentation to the California Bankers Association, 121st Annual Convention, Dana Point, CA, May 4, 2012

Speech at Sacramento State University’s College of Business Administration Executive Speaker Series, Co-hosted with the Chartered Financial Analysts Society of Sacramento, Sacramento, California, February 23, 2007. ; President Janet L. Yellen presented similar remarks to the Silicon Valley...

Speech to the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, Santa Clara, California, February 21, 2007

Speech to the Money Marketeers of New York University, New York, New York, April 26, 2007

Speech before an Australian Business Economists luncheon, Sydney, Australia via satellite link from San Francisco, March 15, 2006