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Productivity

society Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Productivity is a way to measure how well we make things. It shows how much we can make using a set amount of work or tools.

U.S. productivity contributions 1987-2014
U.S. productivity contributions 1987-2014

One common way to measure this is called labour productivity. This looks at how much a country makes for every hour people work.

In the past, people tracked work using hand-drawn graphs. In the 1920s, they began using tabulating machines to help. Later, big computers became common in the 1970s. Today, we use computers to track work in real time.

Labour productivity levels in europe
Labour productivity levels in europe

When productivity grows, life can get better for many people. It can help workers earn better wages. It can also help businesses make more profit.

OECD Productivity levels 2007
OECD Productivity levels 2007

Higher productivity can lead to better homes and schools. It can even help the environment through special programs. When we work well, more money is available to share. This can help customers by giving them lower prices. Growing productivity helps a country stay strong and competitive.

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🖼️ Images & Media (5)
File:Labour productivity levels in europe.svg
Labour productivity levels in europe.svg
File:OECD Productivity levels 2007.svg
OECD Productivity levels 2007.svg
File:U.S. productivity contributions 1987-2014.png
U.S. productivity contributions 1987-2014.png
File:ABS-5206.0-AustralianNationalAccounts-NationalIncomeExpenditureProduct-KeyNationalAccountsAggregates-GdpPerHourWorked-Index-A2304192L.svg
ABS-5206.0-AustralianNationalAccounts-Nati...
File:US federal minimum wage if it had kept pace with productivity. Also, the inflation-adjusted minimum wage.png
US federal minimum wage if it had kept...
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