--- canonical_url: "https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-27/priorities-and-directions-for-future-productivity-research-health-care-intangible-capital-and-high-tech/" title: "Priorities and Directions for Future Productivity Research: Health Care, Intangible Capital and High-tech" author: name: "CSLS" url: "https://csls.ca/author/cslc/" date_published: "2026-07-13T07:37:55+00:00" date_modified: "2026-07-13T07:37:55+00:00" post_type: "ipm" summary: "" ipm_issue_period: - "Fall 2014" ipm_keyword: - "depreciation" - "health care" - "high-tech" - "intangible capital" - "price deflators" - "productivity research" - "satellite account" - "semiconductors" ipm_research_theme: - "Measurement and methodology" ipm_country_focus: - "International" - "United States" featured_image: "https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IPM_50_banner.webp" status: "publish" --- # Priorities and Directions for Future Productivity Research: Health Care, Intangible Capital and High-tech Canonical URL: https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-27/priorities-and-directions-for-future-productivity-research-health-care-intangible-capital-and-high-tech/ # Priorities and Directions for Future Productivity Research: Health Care, Intangible Capital and High-tech [Download full PDF article](https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IPM-Issue-27-3-Sichel.pdf) Cite this article × Cite this article as: Sichel, Dan. 2014. “Priorities and Directions for Future Productivity Research: Health Care, Intangible Capital and High-tech.” International Productivity Monitor, No. 27 (Fall 2014): 14–16. https://www.csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-27/priorities-and-directions-for-future-productivity-research-health-care-intangible-capital-and-high-tech/ ## Author: - Dan Sichel Division of Research and Statistics, Federal Reserve Board ## IPM Issue 27 Fall 2014 pp. 14–16 ## Related IPM articles [Measuring Capital and Multifactor Productivity: The Role of Asset Depreciation and Initial Capital Stock Estimates Pierre-Alain Pionnier, Belén Zinni, Kéa Baret Fall 2023 | IPM Issue 45 | pp. 155–199](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-45/measuring-capital-and-multifactor-productivity-the-role-of-asset-depreciation-and-initial-capital-stock-estimates/) [Lessons from a Career in Productivity Research: Some Answers, A Glimpse of the Future, and Much Left to Learn Martin Baily Spring 2023 | IPM Issue 44 | pp. 120–149](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-44/lessons-from-a-career-in-productivity-research-some-answers-a-glimpse-of-the-future-and-much-left-to-learn/) [Chaos Before Order: Productivity Patterns in U.S. Manufacturing Cindy Cunningham, Sabrina Wulff Pabilonia, Jay Stewart, Lucia Foster, Cheryl Grim, John Haltiwanger, Zoltan Wolf Fall 2021 | IPM Issue 41 | pp. 138–152](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-41/chaos-before-order-productivity-patterns-in-u-s-manufacturing/) [The State of Productivity Research Marshall Reinsdorf Fall 2019 | IPM Issue 37 | pp. 156–161](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-37/the-state-of-productivity-research/) [Global Value Chains and Productivity Growth in Advanced Economies: Does Intangible Capital Matter? 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Tsutomu Miyagawa, Miho Takizawa, Konomi Tonogi Fall 2017 | IPM Issue 33 | pp. 114–127](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-33/can-intangible-investments-ease-declining-rates-of-return-on-capital-in-japan/) [Productivity in Residential Care Facilities in Canada, 1984-2009 Wulong Gu, Jiang Li Fall 2015 | IPM Issue 29 | pp. 18–37](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-29/productivity-in-residential-care-facilities-in-canada-1984-2009/) [Intangible Assets and Their Contribution to Labour Productivity Growth in Ontario Tatiana Muntean Fall 2014 | IPM Issue 27 | pp. 22–39](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-27/intangible-assets-and-their-contribution-to-labour-productivity-growth-in-ontario/) ## Abstract ## Résumé EN FR Copy link Email LinkedIn This article identifies health care, intangible capital, and the high-tech sector as priority areas for productivity research. In terms of health care, it highlights the importance of getting prices right and the key role that a satellite account for health care can play for productivity measurement. Regarding intangible capital, it stresses the importance of developing better price deflators for investment in tangible capital as well as better depreciation rates. Finally, it notes that because of the rapidly changing nature of the hightech sector measurement issues remain a priority. I AM VERY PLEASED TO HAVE an opportunity to Cet article identifie les soins de santé, le capital immatériel et le secteur de haute technologie comme domaines prioritaires pour la recherche sur la productivité. En ce qui concerne les soins de santé, il souligne l’importance d’établir les prix correctement et le rôle clé qu’un compte satellite pour les soins de santé peut jouer pour la mesure de la productivité. En ce qui concerne le capital immatériel, il insiste sur l’importance d’élaborer de meilleurs déflateurs de prix pour l’investissement en capital tangible ainsi que de meilleurs taux d’amortissement. Enfin, il note qu’en raison de la nature en rapide évolution du secteur de haute technologie, les questions de mesure demeurent une priorité. [Download full PDF](https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IPM-Issue-27-3-Sichel.pdf)