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APO-Keio University Special Lecture Program
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 Professor Diewert speaking on the productivity measurement |
In collaboration with the Keio Economic Observatory (KEO), Keio University, the APO organized a special lecture on Measuring Productivity in the System of National Accounts by Professor Walter Erwin Diewert, Department of Economics, University of Britich Columbia, Canada, in the North Hall of Keio University on 22 October. It attracted widespread interest, with more than 80 in attendance representing government, research institutes, universities, and international organizations.
Professor Diewert is an internationally renowned economic theorist, whose research has always been driven by the needs of applied and empirical analyses of real-world economic problems. The aims of this lecture were to raise public awareness of productivity issues and provide an open forum where the importance of productivity measurement and evolution of measurement methodology could be discussed.
The special lecture commenced with opening remarks from the Director of KEO, Professor Hitoshi Hayami, followed by a video message from APO Secretary-General Shigeo Takenaka.
Professor Diewert provided the audience with an overview of various problems related to productivity measurement and the System of National Accounts, a conceptual framework of international statistical standards for the measurement of the market economy. He also introduced issues associated with the measurement of banking-sector outputs and the Financial Intermediation Services Indirectly Measured (FISIM) imputations. He highlighted the importance of collective efforts among governments, academia, and international organizations to improve economic measurement systems. (Click here to download the text of Dr. Diewert’s presentation.)
 Professor Kuroda delivering the closing remarks |
Professor Masahiro Kuroda, President of the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), Cabinet Office, which supported this special lecture, gave closing remarks describing structural reform of the Japanese statistical system. Professor Kuroda also explained problems in the Japanese System of National Accounts and stressed the necessity for reform to adjust to international standards. He commended the APO initiative to develop a productivity database covering its member countries in the Asia-Pacific region and indicated that the ESRI would be willing to collaborate on that project. (Click here to download the text of Professor Kuroda’s presentation)
