---
canonical_url: "https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-32/challenges-in-the-measurement-of-public-sector-productivity-in-oecd-countries/"
title: "Challenges in the Measurement of Public Sector Productivity in OECD Countries"
author:
  name: "CSLS"
  url: "https://csls.ca/author/cslc/"
date_published: "2026-07-13T07:42:35+00:00"
date_modified: "2026-07-13T07:42:35+00:00"
post_type: "ipm"
summary: ""
ipm_issue_period:
  - "Spring 2017"
ipm_keyword:
  - "education"
  - "governance"
  - "health"
  - "input"
  - "measurement"
  - "national accounts"
  - "OECD"
  - "output"
  - "public sector productivity"
  - "public services"
ipm_research_theme:
  - "Sectoral and firm-level dynamics"
ipm_country_focus:
  - "International"
  - "OECD"
featured_image: "https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IPM_50_banner.webp"
status: "publish"
---

# Challenges in the Measurement of Public Sector Productivity in OECD Countries

Canonical URL: https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-32/challenges-in-the-measurement-of-public-sector-productivity-in-oecd-countries/

# Challenges in the Measurement of Public Sector Productivity in OECD Countries

[Download full PDF article](https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IPM-Issue-32-10-Lau-Lonti-Schultz.pdf)

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Cite this article as:

Lau, Edwin, Zsuzsanna Lonti, and Rebecca Schultz. 2017. “Challenges in the Measurement of Public Sector Productivity in OECD Countries.” International Productivity Monitor, No. 32 (Spring 2017): 180–195. https://www.csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-32/challenges-in-the-measurement-of-public-sector-productivity-in-oecd-countries/

## Authors:

-
Edwin Lau
OECD

-
Zsuzsanna Lonti
OECD

-
Rebecca Schultz
OECD

## IPM Issue 32

Spring 2017 pp. 180–195

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## Abstract

## Résumé

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This article examines current practices and challenges in measuring public sector productivity across OECD countries, identifying five areas for improvement: input measurement and cost accounting; standardization and comparability of measures; output measurement beyond education and health; a micro-level activity typology; and intra-governmental coordination. It calls for further research on governance frameworks and policy drivers of public sector productivity, noting that government production accounts for a substantial share of GDP but is currently measured by inputs rather than outputs in most countries.

Cet article examine les pratiques actuelles et les défis de la mesure de la productivité du secteur public dans les pays de l’OCDE, identifiant cinq domaines d’amélioration : la mesure des intrants et la comptabilité des coûts; la normalisation et la comparabilité des mesures; la mesure des extrants au-delà de l’éducation et de la santé; une typologie d’activités au niveau micro; et la coordination intragouvernementale. Il appelle à une recherche plus approfondie sur les cadres de gouvernance et les facteurs politiques de la productivité du secteur public, notant que la production gouvernementale représente une part substantielle du PIB mais est actuellement mesurée par les intrants plutôt que par les extrants dans la plupart des pays.

[Download full PDF](https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IPM-Issue-32-10-Lau-Lonti-Schultz.pdf)
