The impact of structural reforms on productivity: The role of the distance to the technological frontier

Ana Fontoura Gouveia, Sílvia Santos and Inês Gonçalves
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Ana Fontoura Gouveia: Ministry of Finance, Portugal
Sílvia Santos: Banco de Portugal
Inês Gonçalves: Instituto Nacional de Estatística

No 8, OECD Productivity Working Papers from OECD Publishing

Abstract: In recent years, literature has linked structural reforms with productivity growth. Considering Portugal’s recent comprehensive reform agenda, this topic acquires particular relevance. Using data for Portuguese firms for the period 2006-2014, this paper assesses the impact of structural reforms on firms’ productivity. In line with existing literature, the analysis shows that most reforms entail long-term gains, despite, in some reform areas, the existence of short-term costs. In general, there are important differences across reform areas and across firms, namely when comparing firms with different productivity levels. The firms’ distance to the technological frontier mediates the impact of reforms, either by potentiating its effects or by curbing them, depending on the reform area.

Keywords: Distance to frontier; Growth; Structural reforms; Total Factor Productivity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D04 D22 D24 O33 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-eff, nep-eur, nep-sbm and nep-tid
Date: 2017-05-09
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:oec:ecoaac:8-en

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