US-Japanese knowledge transfer programme in the aftermath of WWII
Following WWII, Japan experienced three decades of rapid productivity growth and convergence with the US. This column studies the Japanese Productivity Program, a joint US-Japanese
Brexit’s slow‑burn hit to the UK economy
The UK is once again debating why its economy has grown slowly since the mid‑2010s. This column examines the impact of the decision to leave
Following the tracks: How digital monitoring expands access to mechanization in agriculture.
Low agricultural productivity in developing countries is often linked to limited mechanization. Using tractors for land preparation can significantly increase farm productivity, but most farmers
Why EU innovation policy fails to promote disruptive innovation
Europe’s long-term prosperity depends on its ability to generate and absorb disruptive innovation. This column argues, however, that the European Commission’s proposed 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial
Demographic change: Headwinds for economic growth
With fertility rates falling and populations ageing worldwide, the impact of demographic change on economic prosperity has become a central policy concern. This column uses
The economic value nations create for others relative to domestic gains
True economic power lies not only in what a country gains from trade, but also in how much it contributes to the prosperity of others.
Labour market institutions for the AI era: The need for verified employment records
The rise of AI fundamentally alters the balance between formal credentials and verified experience in labour markets, but without verified employment records, experience remains invisible.
Public money, private innovation: How government funding built – and sustains – America’s technological leadership
The US has long been the world’s innovation powerhouse, based on a system that combines public funding with private initiative. Yet this model is under
Generative AI: Uneven adoption, labour market returns, and policy implications
Generative AI is being adopted more rapidly than previous digital technologies and has the potential to deliver meaningful productivity gains in professional tasks, raising concerns
The hidden costs of China’s industrial policy
China uses a wide array of industrial policies, such as subsidies and regulations, to promote strategic economic sectors. This column estimates that the equivalent fiscal
