An Analysis of Productivity Trends in the Forest Products Sector in Canada

Abstract

This report provides a comprehensive overview of productivity trends in Canada’s forest products sector — covering forestry and logging, wood products, and paper products — at the national and provincial level from 1961 to 2000. It examines output, employment, capital stock, and labour, capital, and total factor productivity, compares Canada’s performance to the United States and Finland, and identifies 13 determinants of productivity growth. Key findings include strong long-run productivity performance across all three industries relative to the economy average, but a significant slowdown in logging and wood products in the 1990s contrasted with an acceleration in paper products, with relative output price changes identified as a key driver.

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