As the economy slips and slides through pandemics, wars, inflation, wage stagnation and other calamities, a certain word keeps popping up: productivity.

If you look it up in the dictionary, the definition is, “the state or quality of being productive,” which isn’t especially helpful to understanding what it means when you’re talking about the economy.

Does it mean working harder to get more stuff done? Does it mean cramming more work into your day so you are seen as being more productive so your boss gives you more money?

Today on Please Explain, senior economics correspondent Shane Wright joins Nathanael Cooper to get to the bottom of what productivity is, and what it’s important.

As the economy slips and slides through pandemics, wars, inflation, wage stagnation and other calamities, a certain word keeps popping up: productivity.
If you look it up in the dictionary, the definition is, “the state or quality of being productive,” which isn’t especially helpful to understanding what it means when you’re talking about the economy.
Does it mean working harder to get more stuff done? Does it mean cramming more work into your day so you are seen as being more productive so your boss gives you more money?
Today on Please Explain, senior economics correspondent Shane Wright joins Nathanael Cooper to get to the bottom of what productivity is, and what it’s important.

The Morning Edition (formerly Please Explain) brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition (formerly Please Explain) brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition

The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

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