This paper analyzes the sources of U.S. productivity
growth through 2004 and presents medium-term projections
for the U.S. economy. We attribute a substantial
portion of productivity gains over the past decade to production
and use of information technology equipment
and software. In the most recent years, we also identify a
growing contribution from sources outside the technology-
producing sectors. Our base-case projection for the
GDP growth rate is almost exactly three percent. We
emphasize the substantial range of uncertainty by presenting
an optimistic projection of 3.5 percent and a pessimistic
projection of only 1.9 percent.
productivity - GDP growth - IT
JEL Classification D240,E230