The Productivity of Nations

49 Pages Posted: 12 Jun 2000 Last revised: 20 Nov 2022

See all articles by Robert E. Hall

Robert E. Hall

Hoover Institution and Department of Economics, Stanford University; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Charles I. Jones

Stanford Graduate School of Business; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Date Written: November 1996

Abstract

Output per worker varies enormously across countries. Why? Our analysis shows that differences in governmental, cultural, and natural infrastructure are important sources of this variation. According to our results, a high-productivity country (i) has institutions that favor production over diversion, (ii) is open to international trade, (iii) has at least some private ownership, (iv) speaks an international language, and (v) is located in a temperate latitude far from the equator. A favorable infrastructure helps a country both by stimulating the accumulation of human and physical capital and by raising its total factor productivity.

Suggested Citation

Hall, Robert E. and Jones, Charles I., The Productivity of Nations (November 1996). NBER Working Paper No. w5812, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=225600

Robert E. Hall (Contact Author)

Hoover Institution and Department of Economics, Stanford University ( email )

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Charles I. Jones

Stanford Graduate School of Business ( email )

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