Research

Abstract: This paper based on the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) panel data set makes an attempt to estimate total factor productivity growth (TFPG) across countries. Productivity convergence over time is evident when countries are divided across regions which could be attributed to a greater degree of association of countries in a given region pursuing joint efforts for infrastructural development, ICT coverage and advancement, trade negotiations, technology acquisition and innovation, and inflow of FDI. In terms of efficiency estimates for select years, most of the countries are seen to be operating much below the frontier. This is indicative of the fact that countries are keen to pursue resource-driven growth in an attempt to maximize it. Based on the inter-temporal data, we observed that a number of countries registered either a negative or a positive but low correlation between labour productivity growth and TFPG. Evidently, countries are engaged in greater mechanization which may be raising labour productivity without ushering in much success in terms of TFPG. From panel data regression, the impact of technology perceived in terms of TFPG, on employment, is seen to be negligible though it is important to note that none of the groups, income or region-wise, recorded a statistically significant negative effect except the least developed countries (LDCs), while the significant cases (howsoever scanty) reveal a positive association. Appropriate incentives may motivate firms to experience technological progress and employment growth both.

Abstract: In today’s world, economic climate changes more quickly, and countries realise that globalisation has made the world small and more competitive. Also, customers seek products and services that can respond to their specific needs, and firms make effort to create competitive advantages to keep their profit and market share. All of the above trends lead firms and countries to focus on efficient logistics system. In this context, almost all developed economies and a few emerging economies estimate national logistics cost on a regular basis to understand the efficiency of their logistics system. This article makes an attempt to survey the literature on logistics cost estimation with special emphasis from the perspective of a developing country like India where estimation is a challenge due to limitation of data.