Firm Foundations of Growth: Productivity and Technology in East Asia and Pacific (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781464822001)

In an era of rapid global technological change, productivity growth in the East Asia and Pacific (EAP) region has decelerated. The most-productive firms in EAP, the "national frontier," are lagging behind the world's leading firms, the "global frontier," particularly in the digital-intensive sectors driving innovation. This widening gap is critical, as these national frontier firms are pivotal to output, employment, and the dissemination of advanced technologies to other domestic enterprises. Detailed firm-level analysis reveals that barriers to competition are stifling incentives to innovate and are inhibiting the movement of workers and capital to more-productive firms. At the same time, inadequate skills and infrastructure are constraining the region's capacity to innovate. Firm Foundations of Growth: Productivity and Technology in East Asia and Pacific argues that enhancing competition, bolstering digital infrastructure, and developing relevant skills can reignite productivity growth across the region, particularly for frontier firms. This book will be of interest to researchers, businesses, and policy makers dedicated to understanding and addressing the productivity challenges in the EAP region.

Author: Francesca de Nicola, Aaditya Mattoo, Jonathan Timmis
ISBN-10: 146482200X
ISBN-13: 9781464822001
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Language: English
Published: 06/13/2025
Pages: 168
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.90lbs
Size: 10.00h x 7.00w x 0.43d