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Title: Aggregate Evidence on the Link Between Demographics and Productivity

Citation Type: Miscellaneous

Publication Year: 2005

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Abstract: This paper examines the relationship between workforce demographics and ag-gregate productivity. Cross country regressions show changes in the age structure ofthe workforce to be signicantly correlated with changes in aggregate productivity.Dierent demographic structures may be related to almost one quarter of the persis-tent productivity gap between the OECD and low income nations. The magnitudeof these correlations is signicantly larger than one would expect from the privatereturn to experience, suggesting externalities. Causal mechanisms through inventiveactivity and management are suggested and evidence from the US census is shown tobe consistent with these mechanisms. Results using US state and metropolitan areadata suggest that the scope of the externality is largely national, not regional.

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Authors: Feyrer, James

Publisher: Dartmouth College

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Labor Force and Occupational Structure

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