---
canonical_url: "https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-19/international-comparisons-of-industry-based-productivity-levels-in-the-financial-and-business-service-sectors/"
title: "International Comparisons of Industry-based Productivity Levels in the Financial and Business Service Sectors"
author:
  name: "CSLS"
  url: "https://csls.ca/author/cslc/"
date_published: "2026-07-13T07:31:42+00:00"
date_modified: "2026-07-13T07:31:42+00:00"
post_type: "ipm"
summary: ""
ipm_issue_period:
  - "Spring 2010"
ipm_keyword:
  - "business services"
  - "EU"
  - "EU KLEMS"
  - "financial services"
  - "ICT"
  - "institutional settings"
  - "international comparison"
  - "productivity"
  - "productivity levels"
  - "United States"
ipm_research_theme:
  - "Sectoral and firm-level dynamics"
ipm_country_focus:
  - "Europe"
  - "France"
  - "Germany"
  - "Netherlands"
  - "United Kingdom"
  - "United States"
featured_image: "https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IPM_50_banner.webp"
status: "publish"
---

# International Comparisons of Industry-based Productivity Levels in the Financial and Business Service Sectors

Canonical URL: https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-19/international-comparisons-of-industry-based-productivity-levels-in-the-financial-and-business-service-sectors/

# International Comparisons of Industry-based Productivity Levels in the Financial and Business Service Sectors

[Download full PDF article](https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IPM-Issue-19-5-Antipa-de-la-Serve.pdf)

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Cite this article as:

Antipa, Pamfili, and Marie-Elisabeth de la Serve. 2010. “International Comparisons of Industry-based Productivity Levels in the Financial and Business Service Sectors.” International Productivity Monitor, No. 19 (Spring 2010): 66–81. https://www.csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-19/international-comparisons-of-industry-based-productivity-levels-in-the-financial-and-business-service-sectors/

## Authors:

-
Pamfili Antipa
Banque de France

-
Marie-Elisabeth de la Serve
Banque de France

## IPM Issue 19

Spring 2010 pp. 66–81

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## Abstract

## Résumé

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This article attempts to explain the relatively poor productivity growth in four major EU countries (Germany, France, United Kingdom, and Netherlands) relative to the United States. Our study is carried out from a sectoral perspective, focussing on the financial and business services sectors. Instead of examining only sectoral productivity growth rates, we also examine sectoral productivity level gaps. Our results imply that the productivity differential in the business services sector is a major factor behind the US lead in productivity. THIS ARTICLE AIMS AT CONTRIBUTING to the

Cet article tente d’expliquer la relativement faible croissance de la productivité dans quatre grands pays de l’UE (Allemagne, France, Royaume-Uni et Pays-Bas) par rapport aux États-Unis. Notre étude est menée dans une perspective sectorielle, axée sur les secteurs des services financiers et aux entreprises. Plutôt que d’examiner uniquement les taux de croissance de la productivité sectorielle, nous examinons également les écarts de niveau de productivité sectorielle. Nos résultats impliquent que l’écart de productivité dans le secteur des services aux entreprises est un facteur majeur derrière la suprématie américaine en matière de productivité.

[Download full PDF](https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IPM-Issue-19-5-Antipa-de-la-Serve.pdf)
