The Economics and Politics of Productivity

The aim of this workshop, run by NIESR and the Productivity Institute, is to explore the relationship between economics and politics in the study of productivity, with a particular focus on institutions and public policy. Much of academic research and policy-making rests on the separation of economics from political science. The ensuing silos have reinforced fragmented decision-making, combined with the persistent problem of overcentralised government and often weak institutions and constant policy churn. All of which helps to explain Britain’s weak productivity growth.

This workshop seeks to challenge both existing research and public policy on productivity – with a focus on the institutions that are specific to productivity performance, including national, regional, local government but also ‘economic institutions’ such as finance, educational institutions, R&D investment and dissemination.

Speakers

• Bart van Ark (University of Manchester; The Productivity Institute)
• Tim Besley (LSE)
• Guido Tabellini (Bocconi University)
• Anton Muscatelli (University of Glasgow)
• Stephanie Rickard (LSE)
• Jagjit Chadha (NIESR)
• Diane Coyle (University of Cambridge)
• Torsten Persson (Stockholm University)
• Tony Venables (University of Manchester; The Productivity Institute)
• Andy Westwood (University of Manchester)

Please feel free to pass this invitation on to any colleagues who may be interested.