During the late 1990s, productivity soared and ignited a "new economy" debate over whether the phenomenon was temporary or permanent. More recently, productivity growth has been unusually strong in the face of an abruptly slowing economy, surprising many skeptics who viewed the boom times of...

Productivity growth is critical to maintaining and increasing the standard of living for American workers.

How the United States encourages and manages productivity growth will determine the standard of living for American workers--both now and in the future.

U.S. productivity growth accelerated in the mid-1990s and, despite the recession in 2001, has surged ahead at even higher rates over the past two years. Measured as growth in output per hour worked, increases in productivity are essential for sustained economic growth and increases in wages and jobs over the...