Research seminar: Part 1. Productivity Slowdown; Part 2. Scanner Data in CPI Measurement

Kevin Fox, UNSW: https://www.business.unsw.edu.au/our-people/kevinfox

 

Part 1 (9:30-10:30) Perspectives on the Productivity Slowdown

The productivity slowdown since 2004 across industrialised nations is a continuing source of concern and debate. This talk will review the debate and look at possible sources of the slowdown, including the potential role of mismeasurement.

Background Papers:

Fox, K.J. (2018), “What Do We Know About the Productivity Slowdown? Evidence from Australian Industry Data,”  International Productivity Monitor Number 35, Fall, 149–156.

Diewert, W.E. and K.J. Fox (2019), ““Productivity Indexes and National Statistics: Theory, Methods and Challenges,” in W. Greene and T. ten Raa (eds.),  Handbook of Economic Performance Analysis, Palgrave, Chapter 18, forthcoming.

Part 2 (10:30-11:15) Scanner Data in CPI Measurement

Recent developments in the theory and practice of using scanner data in CPI construction will be presented, with an emphasis on the choice of multilateral index number methods.

Background Papers:

Diewert, W.E. and K.J. Fox (2018), “Substitution Bias in Multilateral Methods for CPI Construction Using Scanner Data,” UNSW Business School Research Paper No. 2018-13.

Australian Bureau of Statistics (2017), “An Implementation Plan to Maximise the Use of Transactions Data in the CPI,” Information Paper 6401.0.60.004, 16 June, Canberra.