← Back to Domains
Productivity

Productivity

vs USA
20% below
Growth Since 2008
Near zero
Capital/Worker
1/3 of peers
38%Current
Potential: 70%

βœ—Key Problems

  • 1.20% below US, 14% below France/Germany - GAP WIDENING
  • 2.Near-ZERO growth since 2008 - lost decade+
  • 3.1/3 less capital per worker - chronic underinvestment
  • 4.Β£20,000/family POORER than if pre-2008 trend continued

βœ“Solutions

  • 1.0% CORP TAX on reinvested profits: Incentivise investment (Estonia model)
  • 2.EMPLOYMENT FLEXIBILITY: Simplified rules for small firms <50 employees (US model)
  • 3.3-YEAR TAX INCENTIVE: STEM graduates staying in UK (Ireland talent retention)
  • 4.REGULATORY REVIEW: Sunset clause on 20% of regulations annually (OECD best practice)
πŸ”¬

Analysis

Root Causes

1

20% below US, 14% below France/Germany - GAP WIDENING

2

Near-ZERO growth since 2008 - lost decade+

3

1/3 less capital per worker - chronic underinvestment

4

Β£20,000/family POORER than if pre-2008 trend continued

Reform Pathway

1

0% CORP TAX on reinvested profits: Incentivise investment (Estonia model)

2

EMPLOYMENT FLEXIBILITY: Simplified rules for small firms <50 employees (US model)

3

3-YEAR TAX INCENTIVE: STEM graduates staying in UK (Ireland talent retention)

4

REGULATORY REVIEW: Sunset clause on 20% of regulations annually (OECD best practice)

Policy Costings

Rigorous fiscal analysis of Productivity reforms

View All Costings β†’
⚠️
CONTESTED ESTIMATE
Significant methodological disputes. View caveats below.
πŸ“ˆProductivity

Regulation Sunset Clause

Upfront
+Β£2.0bn
Annual
+Β£2.0bn
Revenue
+Β£8.0bn
Net Annual Effect
+Β£10.0bn/year
Payback in 3 years
GDP +1.5%Productivity +0.35%very high uncertainty
UNCERTAINTY RANGE (Annual Net Effect)
Most Pessimistic
-Β£10.0bn
⟷
Most Optimistic
+Β£25.0bn
⚠️
MAJOR CAVEATS
  • β€’Benefit-cost ratios of UK regulations rarely evaluated post-implementation; assumed benefits often not realised
  • β€’Regulatory uncertainty is real risk - clear sunset process essential to avoid investment freeze
  • β€’International comparison: UK regulatory burden heavier than US, Singapore; lighter than EU
  • β€’Catastrophic failure risk real but rare; status quo also has costs (Grenfell was regulatory failure, not absence)
  • β€’Externalities cut both ways: regulation can create negative externalities (housing shortage, energy costs)
  • β€’Track record: UK regulatory state has grown continuously since 1990s while growth has stagnated
4 sources
The Productivity Puzzle: Britain's Stagnant Economy - Infographic
The Productivity Puzzle: Britain's Stagnant Economy β€’ Data sources cited in image