The research focus on the analysis of interdependence of economic and ICT development results from the fact that, in recent decades, ICTs have become a dominant factor in generating socio-economic prosperity of countries. ICT expansion is a stimulus for economic growth, and vice versa. In order...

Although economists have long studied the impact of bribery on firms' development, the debate continues as to whether bribery ‘greases' or ‘sands' the growth of businesses. For this investigation, we acquired data from the Business Environment and Enterprise Survey conducted by the World...

Many countries in Africa suffer high rates of underemployment or low rates of productive employment; many also anticipate large numbers of people to enter the workforce in the near future. This paper asks the question: Are African firms creating fewer jobs than those located elsewhere? And, if...

Can culture explain persistent differences in economic activity among individuals and across regions? A novel measure of cultural origin enables us to contrast the entrepreneurial activity of individuals located in the same municipality but whose ancestors lived just on opposite sides of the...

Using a new survey, we show that the dispersion of marginal products across firms in the European Union is about twice as large as that in the United States. Reducing it to the US level would increase EU GDP by more than 30 percent. Alternatively, removing barriers between industries and...

Using a new survey, we show that the dispersion of marginal products across firms in the European Union is about twice as large as that in the United States. Reducing it to the US level would increase EU GDP by more than 30 percent. Alternatively, removing barriers between industries and...

This study identifies environmentally friendly growth potential of selected sectors in Uganda. An innovative survey of owners and top managers of firms in sectoral value chains in Uganda enables a ranking of economic growth prospects, on the one hand, and aspects of sustainability, on the other...

The aim of this report is to foster a better understanding of past trends in, and drivers of, productivity growth in the countries of the European Union (EU) and of the interplay between productivity and monetary policy. To this end, a group of experts from 15 national central banks and the...

In recent years, literature has linked structural reforms with productivity growth. Considering Portugal’s recent comprehensive reform agenda, this topic acquires particular relevance. Using data for Portuguese firms for the period 2006-2014, this paper assesses the impact of structural...

We follow the recent strand of work linking innovation, productivity and exports. We test the hypothesis that a rise in investment favors entrance in export markets and increases exports among previously exporting firms. We address causal links through impact evaluation techniques for...