Productivity Measurement

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Productivity Measurement

In line with its organizational mission, since 2007 the APO has conducted productivity measurement projects that provide a comparative analysis of the productivity and economic growth of APO member economies. The results of these projects support the Secretariat in planning need-based programs and assist member governments in formulating appropriate economic policies and strategies. These productivity measurement projects are implemented under a research partnership with Keio Economic Observatory of Keio University, Tokyo.

Online APO Productivity Database

Asian Economy and Productivity Map (AEPM)

The Asian Economic Productivity Map (AEPM) is an online tool that provides a comprehensive view of productivity and other economic data of 30 Asian countries and benchmarks from multiple economic groups across the world including ASEAN, the Gulf Cooperation Council, South Asia, EU 15, and USA.

The AEPM provides a graphic dashboard view of productivity and economic trends, and the data are presented as both by per-worker labor productivity and per-hour labor productivity, in addition to total factor productivity growth rates. Labor productivity growth has been computed for key sectors, such as agriculture, manufacturing, wholesale and retail, transportation, and communication. Data on other economic parameters including output, capital, demand, income, population, and prices are also available as one-point references on the AEPM.

Click here to go to Asian Economy and Productivity Map
APO Productivity Database 2023 Version 1 (Index) (xlsx) [Updated 7 November 2023]
APO Productivity Database 2023 Version 1 (xlsx) [Updated 7 November 2023]

The database offers both GDP data by industry and economy-wide input and output data with detailed disaggregation. This comprehensive dataset is one of the key elements of the APO Productivity Database 2020.

Online APO Productivity Databook

APO Productivity Databook 2023 (PDF)

The 16th edition of the APO Productivity Databook provides comprehensive analyses of Asia’s economic growth and productivity from 1970 to 2021, with projections to 2030. Baseline indicators are provided for 31 Asian economies, including 21 APO members, 10 nonmembers, and reference economies such as Australia, France, Italy, Germany, New Zealand, the UK, and USA. A detailed productivity account in the APO Productivity Database (APO-PDB) is developed for 21 APO members, four nonmember Asian countries, and the USA, with detailed insights on the roles of capital and labor inputs and total factor productivity in economic growth.

Authored by Dr. Koji Nomura and Dr. Fukunari Kimura, this edition introduces new methodologies in the APO-PDB 2023, including capitalization of mineral and energy resources and improved estimates of land stock and labor quality. It serves as a practical reference for policymakers and researchers on industry structures and their influence on labor productivity in Asia and beyond.

Click here for older editions of the databook.

APO Productivity Data: Quick Facts 2020 [updated: June 2021]

APO Productivity Databook 2021

APO Productivity Quick Facts 2020 is a compact supplement to the APO Productivity Databook 2020. This booklet gives users quick reference to productivity data on all APO member countries. It encompasses key indicators of productivity performance and economic growth through 25 country and regional profiles as well as comparative cross-country statistics and projections. APO Productivity Quick Facts 2020 is a time-saving tool for policymakers, policy analysts, academics, economists, and productivity practitioners requiring easy, at-a-glance access to overall productivity data on member countries.

Metadata Survey

A Survey of National Accounts in Asia for Cross-country Productivity Comparisons (PDF 600 KB)[Updated: March 2009]

Co-authors: Professor Koji Nomura, Ms. Eunice Y.M. Lau, and Mr. Hideyuki Mizobuchi

Research Papers on Productivity Measurement

• Business Dynamics and Productivity Growth with an Application to Taiwanese Electronics Firms (PDF 280 KB)
Presented by Professor Loretta Fung at the APO-KEO Special Lecture held on 5 October 2009.

• The Housing Bubble and a New Approach to Accounting for Housing in a CPI (PDF 120 KB)
Presented by Professor Alice Nakamura at the APO-KEO Special Lecture held on 5 October 2009.

• Productivity Measurement within a New Architecture for the US National Accounts: Lessons for Asia (PDF 130 KB)
Presented by Professor Dale W. Jorgenson at the APO-KEO Special Lecture held on 15 January 2009.

• Productivity Measurement in the National Accounts and Its Importance (PDF 150 KB)
Presented by Professor Erwin Diewert at the APO-KEO Special Lecture held on 22 October 2007.

Articles on Productivity Measurement

News Articles

A look at Asian productivity in the last decade, APO News May 2011

Reading productivity and economic trends
Dr. Koji Nomura, Associate Professor, Keio Economic Observatory, Keio University, contributed the articles below, in collaboration with Ms. Eunice Y.M. Lau, co-author of the APO Productivity Databook (Parts 1–7):

The power of data, APO News June 2010

Capacity Building in Productivity Measurement for APO Members

The Research and Planning Department undertakes survey initiatives, missions, and other forms of assistance for members to build their capacity in the area of productivity measurement and economic statistics. These efforts are in line with the APO’s mission to serve as a think tank and regional adviser for its members.

APO Survey Initiative
Surveys are conducted by the APO Secretariat to assist APO members in improving their official statistical data and to build up their capacity for productivity measurement. These can take various forms ranging from a joint statistical survey with a member to an assistance mission to an individual member upon request. To date, missions have been sent by the APO to Mongolia (2008) and Fiji (2009). An ongoing survey initiative is the National Wealth Survey of Mongolia. This is being conducted in collaboration with the National Statistical Office of Mongolia. This will be the first survey to observe capital stock in Mongolia directly and ultimately will be the basis for the development of the balance-sheet account in Mongolia.

Click below for news on the Mongolian initiative.

• Collaboration with the National Statistical Office of Mongolia
• Training for Mongolian NSO staff

APO TFP Missions to Member Countries
Among APO members, there are distinct differences in the system of national accounts and the definition and coverage of economic indicators that are crucial for productivity measurement. A challenging task in productivity measurement is considering these differences and devising a harmonized methodology for computing indicators like single factor productivity (e.g., labor productivity) or multifactor productivity/total factor productivity (TFP). In line with the aim of assisting APO members in taking the necessary steps for computing their TFP using internationally standardized methodology, the APO dispatches missions to its members when requested.

Click below for news on these TFP Missions.