FOREWORD
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This book attempts to highlight
some developments in the expanding field of productivity
growth analysis. First, the various total factor
productivity (TFP) growth measurement methods
are categorized under the frontier and non-frontier
approaches. By way of illustration, a survey of
TFP growth studies of Singapore and Malaysia is
used for discussion. Skepticism regarding the
usefulness of TFP growth measures and their interpretation
is also addressed.
Second, a more focused approach to understanding
the determinants of TFP growth is explained. One
important feature of the hook is the preliminary
empirical investigation based on data from the
publication APO Asia-Pacific Productivity Data
and Analysis 2001. This was used to draw policy
implications and lessons from various countries
for improving productivity growth in the Asia-Pacific
region.
As the emergence of the new or knowledge-based
economy is already evident in some Asia-Pacific
countries, the debate and evidence surrounding
the information technology-productivity nexus
as well as the challenges in adopting information
technology are reviewed. Finally, to raise the
APO's profile and spearhead its efforts in productivity
research, suggestions are provided as to what
and how more can be done in this area.
The Author
Renuka Mahadevan obtained her Master's and PhD
in economics at the Australian National University.
She also holds a postgraduate diploma in education
from the then Institute of Education in Singapore.
Currently, she is with the Department of Economics
at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia,
where she teaches and supervises undergraduate
and postgraduate economics students. She has also
played an important managerial role as one of
the executive directors of the Queensland branch
of the Economic Society of Australia.
Her research expertise is in the area of empirical
work and investigation using econometric techniques
and computable general equilibrium models. This
is in applied economics dealing with policy issues
and development economics on a wide range of topics
such as international trade, inflation targeting,
foreign direct investment, as well as environmental
concerns such as pollution abatement. In particular,
she has published extensively in the area of productivity
growth analysis in the Asia-Pacific region and
she has a forthcoming book entitled, The Economics
of Productivity in Asia and Australia, to
be published by Edward Elgar in 2003.
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