Replication Data for: Measuring Productivity: Lessons from Tailored Surveys and Productivity Benchmarking

We use tailored surveys and benchmarking in the flat-weave rug industry to better understand the shortcomings of standard productivity measures. TFPQ performs poorly because of variation in product specifications across firms. Controlling for specifications aligns TFPQ with lab benchmarks.We also collect quality metrics to construct quality productivity (the ability to produce quality given inputs) and find substantial dispersion across firms. This motivates interest in multi-dimensional productivity, or capability. As quality productivity is negatively correlated with TFPQ, TFPR may perform better at capturing capabilities in settings where better firms make products with more demanding specifications that have greater input requirements.

我们通过在平织地毯行业开展定制化调查与基准测试，深入剖析标准生产率测度方法的局限性。TFPQ表现不佳，原因在于企业间产品规格存在差异；控制规格变量后，TFPQ与实验室基准结果趋于一致。我们还收集质量指标以构建质量生产率（即在给定投入下生产优质产品的能力），并发现企业间存在显著的质量生产率差异。这激发了学界对多维度生产率（即能力）的研究兴趣。由于质量生产率与TFPQ呈负相关，在优质企业生产规格要求更高、投入需求更大的产品的场景中，TFPR或许能更有效地捕捉企业能力。