Economic Growth and Productivity - Applications

The US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) maintains quarterly data on real GDP growth in their "overview of the US economy" at www.bea.doc.gov.

Find growth rates of various countries from the World Bank at www.worldbank.org/data. Click on "Data by Topic," then choose "Macroeconomics and Growth." Under "Economic Growth and Structure," click on "Growth of Output."

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) maintains quarterly data on labor productivity at www.bls.gov/data/.

The National Science Foundation tracks Reserach and Development (R & D) spending. Visit www.nsf.gov and click on "Science Statistics."

Log on to www.bearstearns.com/ewatch/forindex.htm. What does Bear Stearns project for economic growth in the United States in the next 12 months? How does this compare to economic growth in the last 12 months? What are some likely explanations for these different growth rates?

Browse through this case study on productivity at econedlink.org/lessons/index.cfm?lesson=EM221.

Read about "What's Happening in the New Economy" at econedlink.org/lessons/index.cfm?lesson=EM99.