Approaches to Fostering Productivity Growth in Brazil, China and India

Working Paper #47
Monday, April 26, 2010

Productivity growth is a significant contributor to GDP growth, particularly to increases in per capita income. However, there is considerable ambiguity regarding how to measure the concept of technical progress, and consequently on policies that would foster productivity growth. Brazil, China and India, three important emerging economies, are seeking to foster productivity growth through encouraging innovation and technology transfers from the more developed economies. But given the ambiguities about how to encourage innovation and technology transfers, governments in these countries adopted a plethora of policies in the hope that the combination will be effective.

A distinguished fellow at CIGI, John Whalley’s research interests include the G20, globalization, Chinese policy issues and climate change negotiations.
Manmohan Agarwal is a CIGI visiting fellow, and was previously the dean of the School of International Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Dehli.