The Age of Productivity: Transforming Economies from the Bottom Up (Development in the Americas (Paperback))

Age of Productivity offers a look at how the low productivity in Latin America and the Caribbean is preventing the region from catching up with the developed world. The authors look beyond the traditional macro explanations and dig all the way down to the industry and firm level to uncover the causes. A Look At How The Low Productivity In Latin America And The Caribbean Is Preventing The Region From Catching Up With The Developed World. The Authors Look Beyond The Traditional Macro Explanations And Dig All The Way Down To The Industry And Firm Level To Uncover The Causes. The Book Examines Productivity Growth By Focusing On The Extreme Heterogeneity Of Sectors And Firms, Emphasizing The Importance Of Policies That Allow Firms To Thrive And Expand. The Book Zeros In On The Critical Services Sectors, Particularly Those, Such As Transportation And Retail, With Important Repercussions On The Rest Of The Economy. It Challenges The Argument That The Region Is Condemned To Stagnation And Examines A Number Of Policy Levers That Can Transform Its Economies. Latin America's Productivity Problem -- Aggregate And Sector-based Productivity Analysis / Fernàndez-arias -- The Role Of Firm Entry, Exit And Resource Allocation In Explaining Productivity / Pagés -- Productivity Dynamics: The Role Of Innovation / Navarro And Llisterri -- The Role Of Market And Policy Failures In Explaining Latin America Productivity Problem -- Uninsured Risk And Social Protection Policies / Ñopo -- Tax Policy / Chong -- Financial Market Failures And Policies / Galindo -- Macroeconomic Instability And Macroeconomic Policies / Izquierdo And Cavallo -- Product Market Competition Policies / Mesquita -- Innovation Policies / Navarro And Llisterri -- Industrial Policies / Fernández-arias -- Sme Policies / Ibarrán And Maffioli -- Unlocking Productivity Growth -- The Political Economy Of Productivity / Scartascini And Tomassi -- How To Unlock Productivity Growth In The Region. Carmen Pagés, Editor. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Productivity, the main driver of economic prosperity, is languishing in Latin America and the Caribbean and is preventing the region from catching up with the developed world. Asking why the region is falling farther and farther behind, this book looks beyond the traditional macro explanations and digs all the way down to the industry and firm level to uncover the causes of this low productivity. It provides tools to ponder productivity growth beyond conventional aggregate analysis, focusing on the extreme heterogeneity of sectors and firms while emphasizing the importance of policies that allow high productivity firms to thrive and expand. While it certainly considers the plight of manufacturing, the book zeros in on the critical services sectors, particularly those, such as transportation and retail, with important repercussions on the rest of the economy. It challenges the argument that the region is condemned to stagnation and examines a number of policy levers that can transform the economies of the region.--Publisher's description The age of productivity Aggregate productivity : the key to unlocking Latin America's development potential Productivity in Latin America : the challenge of the service sector Productivity from the bottom up : firms and resource allocation in Latin America Trade and productivity : a route to reallocation with a high transport toll Why credit matters for productivity Taxes and productivity : a game of hide and seek Safe and sound social policy : reconciling protection with productivity Big questions about small firms The importance of ideas : innovation and productivity in Latin America Phantom or phoenix? : industrial policies in Latin America today The politics of productivity.