| Where to find the productivity gains from innovation? |
| TO: |
|
Business and economics writers/editors
|
| WHAT: |
|
Where to find the productivity gains from innovation?
The surge in U.S. productivity growth that began in the mid-1990s
has generated considerable debate among economists. While most agree
that the boom in information technology (IT) investment greatly
contributed to this surge, many argue whether this contribution
is mostly due to productivity gains in the manufacture of IT goods
or whether the productivity gains flowed downstream to the users
of IT goods in other industries.
|
| WHO: |
|
Dan Wilson, Economist
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
|
| WHEN: |
|
Available on the Internet - Tuesday, February 18, 2003 at 8:00 AM PST:
www.frbsf.org/publications/economics/letter/2003/el2003-04.html
|
| WHY: |
|
If productivity gains do flow downstream to users, then it is more
likely that aggregate productivity growth will persist for many
years, even if the pace of innovation were to stall, as downstream
industries continue to discover productive uses of the new technology.
Business reporters researching productivity trends and seeking
neutral, third-party input to bring perspective to their stories
may wish to contact Economist Dan Wilson directly at (415) 974-3423
dan.wilson@sf.frb.org.
|
| WHERE: |
|
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
101 Market Street between Main and Spear Streets
San Francisco
|
| CONTACT: |
|
Lily Ruiz, Media Relations Specialist, (415) 974-3240
lily.ruiz@sf.frb.org
|
