Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Andrew Sharpe
Author-Email: andrew.sharpe@csls.ca
Title: Editor’s Overview
Abstract:  THIS 18TH ISSUE OF THE International Productivity Monitor published by the Centre for the
Study of Living Standards contains seven articles. Topics covered are the relationship
between education, productivity and economic growth, new estimates of multifactor productivity
for the Canadian provinces, the World Productivity Database developed by the
United National Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and a symposium on
the recently released Council of Canadian Academies Expert Panel report on business
innovation in Canada.
Classification-JEL: Y2
Keywords: Productivity, Education, Growth, Multifactor productivity, Innovation, 
Journal: International Productivity Monitor
Pages: 1-2
Volume: 18
Year: 2009
Month: Spring
File-URL:  http://www.csls.ca/ipm/18/IPM-18-editoroverview.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
Handle: RePEc:sls:ipmsls:v:18:y:2009:0

Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Serge Coulombe
Author-Email: Serge.Coulombe@uottawa.ca
Author-Name: Jean-Francois Tremblay
Author-Email: Jean-Francois.Tremblay@uottawa.ca
Title: Education, Productivity and Economic Growth: A Selective Review of the Evidence
Abstract: We review a selection of the theoretical and empirical literature on human capital and growth
that appear to provide the most relevant insights for policy development in the Canadian
context. We first focus on the extension of the neo-classical growth model with the inclusion
of human capital in an open economy framework, and discuss its empirical applications to the
Canadian economy. We also examine other issues such as the returns to education and the
distance from the technological frontier, the microeconomic versus macroeconomic return to
education, and the quantity versus quality of education. Although the levels of investment in
education and the overall quality of the educational system in Canada are fairly high, we argue
that the returns of additional investments in post-secondary education could still be
substantial since Canada is relatively close to the technology frontier.
Classification-JEL: H52, I20, I21, I28
Keywords: Human Capital, Growth, Policy, education, technological frontier, education quality, 
Journal: International Productivity Monitor
Pages: 3-24
Volume: 18
Year: 2009
Month: Spring
File-URL:  http://www.csls.ca/ipm/18/IPM-18-Coulombe-Tremblay.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
Handle: RePEc:sls:ipmsls:v:18:y:2009:1

Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Andrew Sharpe 
Author-Email: andrew.sharpe@csls.ca
Author-Name: Jean-Francois Arsenault
Author-Email: jf.arsenault@csls.ca
Title: New Estimates of Multifactor Productivity Growth for the Canadian Provinces 
Abstract: This article presents new estimates of multifactor productivity for the Canadian provinces for
the 1997-2007 period. In contrast to earlier estimates, these estimates incorporate both
changes in labour and capital composition or quality. Reflecting differences in labour
productivity and capital productivity, multifactor productivity growth varies greatly by
province. Newfoundland enjoyed the strongest multifactor productivity growth and Alberta
the weakest.
Classification-JEL: C82, O14, O15, O47,
Keywords: multifactor productivity, labour composition, capital composition, capital quality, labour quality,
Journal: International Productivity Monitor
Pages: 25-37
Volume: 18
Year: 2009
Month: Spring
File-URL:  http://www.csls.ca/ipm/18/IPM-18-Sharpe-Arsenault.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
Handle: RePEc:sls:ipmsls:v:18:y:2009:2

Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Anders Isaksson
Author-Email: a.isaksson@unido.org 
Title: The UNIDO World Productivity Database: An Overview
Abstract: This article introduces a new unique database, the World Productivity Database (WPD), which
contains information on levels and growth of aggregate total factor productivity (TFP) for up
to 112 countries, covering the period 1960 to 2000. At its core are numerous measurement
methods, variations in functional forms and specifications — including schooling and health
— of the production function, constant and variable returns to scale, as well as measures of
technical progress and change in technical efficiency. In addition, five labour and four
capital stock measures are used to derive a variety of TFP measures. Another significant
feature is TFP forecasts for the period of 2001-2010.
Classification-JEL: C82, O47, O11, R11
Keywords: Productivity, total factor productivity, labour input, capital input, cross-country comparison
Journal: International Productivity Monitor
Pages: 38-50
Volume: 18
Year: 2009
Month: Spring
File-URL:  http://www.csls.ca/ipm/18/IPM-18-Isaksson.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
Handle: RePEc:sls:ipmsls:v:18:y:2009:3

Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Peter Nicholson
Title: Innovation and Business Strategy: Why Canada Falls Short
Abstract: This article compares the development of labour productivity in the Swedish and the Finnish
business sectors and the role of the information and communication technology (ICT) sector
in this process. The results show that the Finnish productivity level has been converging
towards the Swedish level, but that there is still a significant difference. This trend has
coincided with the growing importance of the ICT sector, especially since the mid 1990s.
Due to higher productivity and employment growth, the Finnish ICT sector has contributed
to this convergence. This is explained by the electrical engineering industry. The Nokia
effect has been stronger than the Ericsson effect.
Classification-JEL: M21, H25, O31, O38, O51
Keywords: Innovation, productivity, business strategy, public policy, market structure, Competition, business climate, business ambition
Journal: International Productivity Monitor
Pages: 51-71
Volume: 18
Year: 2009
Month: Spring
File-URL:  http://www.csls.ca/ipm/18/IPM-18-Nicholson.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
Handle: RePEc:sls:ipmsls:v:18:y:2009:4

Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Richard Hawkins 
Title: Is Canada Really All That Bad At Innovation?: A Tale of Two Industries
Abstract: This commentary raises questions about the degree to which global innovation indicators
enable us to understand the historical dynamics of innovation in Canada, and about future
directions for Canadian innovation policy. By focusing on the automotive and
telecommunications sectors, two currently troubled Canadian industries with completely
different histories, some of the major successes and mistakes of Canadian industrial policy
are assessed critically. The conclusion is that the innovation problem in Canada has less to
do with capabilities or opportunities, than with recent tendencies not to follow through
when ambitious innovation initiatives in specific industries could be transformed into new
national "engines of growth".
Classification-JEL: N92, O31, O38
Keywords: Review, Innovation, productivity, telecommunications industry, automotive industry, research and development, 
Journal: International Productivity Monitor
Pages: 72-79
Volume: 18
Year: 2009
Month: Spring
File-URL:  http://www.csls.ca/ipm/18/IPM-18-Hawkins.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
Handle: RePEc:sls:ipmsls:v:18:y:2009:5

Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Jorge Niosi
Title: Bridging Canadian Technology SMEs Over the Valley of Death
Abstract: This comment analyses the Panel report and finds that its main diagnosis is correct: Canada's
BERD is low. The Panel report is fairly silent about the necessary improvements to Canada's
innovation system. This comment suggests that while Canada's tax credit for R&D and
Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) are useful programs, they need to be
complemented by other direct incentives that may help small technology firms to cross the
"valley of death", complete proof of concept and become eligible to venture capital. The US
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, imitated by Japan, is the best model
for such an incentive and Canada should consider its adoption.
Classification-JEL: H25, O31, O38, O51
Keywords: Review, innovation, productivity, Industrial Research Assistance Program, Small Business Innovation Research program, public policy
Journal: International Productivity Monitor
Pages: 80-84
Volume: 18
Year: 2009
Month: Spring
File-URL:  http://www.csls.ca/ipm/18/IPM-18-Niosi.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
Handle: RePEc:sls:ipmsls:v:18:y:2009:6

Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Ian A. Stewart
Title: Some Reflections on the Expert Panel Report on Business Innovation in Canada
Abstract: This article reviews the Council of Canadian Academies Expert Panel report on business
innovation. It finds the report comprehensive in its gathering and assessment of available
research, innovative, in its own right, in its analysis of innovation as an outcome of
business strategy formation, and impressively well ordered and written. Both lay readers and
professional students of innovation and labour productivity will find the report to be of great
value.
Classification-JEL: H25, O31, O38, O51
Keywords: Review, innovation, productivity
Journal: International Productivity Monitor
Pages: 85-88
Volume: 18
Year: 2009
Month: Spring
File-URL:  http://www.csls.ca/ipm/18/IPM-18-Stewart.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
Handle: RePEc:sls:ipmsls:v:18:y:2009:7