Keyword Researcher Pro 13.243 instal the new

Section B describes the main dataset used and provides summary statistics of key variables. Using a detailed firm-level dataset for Japan, the analysis investigates the following questions: (i) What stylized facts describe Japanese firms in terms of their productivity growth across and within sectors? (ii) What SME characteristics are associated with low productivity growth? (iii) What explains low productivity growth in Japanese SMEs? We consider several hypotheses to explain Japanese SME performance, including SME public credit guarantees, financing constraints, demographics, and investment in intangible capital. This paper studies firm-level productivity growth in Japan, with a focus on SMEs and potential explanations for their weak performance. Given the significance of SMEs in the Japanese economy-SMEs employ close to 70 percent of the total work force- boosting SME productivity growth would improve Japan’s overall productivity growth.

2 By contrast, labor productivity of large enterprises in both manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors has been improving since the GFC. According to Japan’s Ministry of Finance, SME labor productivity growth has been flat for over a decade. SME productivity growth has been significantly lower than that of large enterprises in Japan.

Sluggish SME productivity growth is a drag on Japan’s overall productivity growth.

Keyword Researcher Pro 13.243 instal the new