Technology, Organization and Productivity in Services: Lessons from Britain and the United States Since 1870

Stephen Broadberry and Sayantan Ghosal

No 4428, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: This Paper first documents the comparative productivity performance of the United States and Britain since 1870, showing the importance of developments in services. We identify the transition in market services from customized, low-volume, high margin business organized on a network basis to standardized, high-volume, low margin business with hierarchical management, as a key factor. A model of the interaction between technology, organization and economic performance is then provided, focusing on the transition from networks to hierarchies. Four general lessons are drawn: (1) developments in services must be analysed if the major changes in comparative productivity performance among nations are to be understood fully; (2) different technologies and organizational forms can co-exist efficiently; (3) technological change can cause difficulties of adjustment in technology-using sectors if it is not suited to the social capabilities of the society; (4) reversal of technological trends can lead to reversal of comparative productivity performance.

Keywords: Productivity; Services; Technology; Organization; Hierarchies; Networks (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: N10 O40 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2004-06
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