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Michael Grömling IW-Trends No. 2 9. May 2022 The Productivity Effects of Capital Formation in Germany

Despite broad-based digitalisation, productivity advances in Germany in recent years have been considerably lower than in previous decades. This paper conducts a growth accounting which points to steeply declining stimuli from technical progress and especially from capital formation.

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The Productivity Effects of Capital Formation in Germany
Michael Grömling IW-Trends No. 2 9. May 2022

The Productivity Effects of Capital Formation in Germany

German Economic Institute (IW) German Economic Institute (IW)

Despite broad-based digitalisation, productivity advances in Germany in recent years have been considerably lower than in previous decades. This paper conducts a growth accounting which points to steeply declining stimuli from technical progress and especially from capital formation.

Using gross capital as a measure of the capital stock, our analysis indicates the available production potential and potential capital services. It also provides starting points for a direct assessment of past investment performance and for devising economic policy measures to boost productivity. The paper concludes that the development of the capital stock depends on the extent to which current investment exceeds capital stock retirement. A rise in investment per labour unit does not necessarily lead to an increase in either capital intensity or labour productivity. Analyses of the structure and development of the capital stock and the resulting productivity must take account of obsolescence in the factors of production, which varies greatly according to the type of investment. Modern capital goods in particular are subject to a high rate of innovation and thus also to rapid obsolescence. Even a comparatively high level of investment in digital capital goods and especially in intangibles may therefore not necessarily result in a correspondingly high growth in the capital stock.

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The Productivity Effects of Capital Formation in Germany
Michael Grömling IW-Trends No. 2 9. May 2022

The Productivity Effects of Capital Formation in Germany

German Economic Institute (IW) German Economic Institute (IW)

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Michael Grömling in Intereconomics External Publication 10. February 2025

The Current Economic Situation in Germany in the Context of Previous Crises

This article places the current economic stagnation in Germany in the context of previous crises since 1991.

IW

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Michael Hüther IW-Policy Paper No. 1 8. January 2025

An agenda for the new legislative period: Competitiveness and transformation

The German business model, based on industry, services, exports, and regional balance, faces significant pressure.

IW

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