{"product_id":"tides-of-change-e-igniting-productivity-growth-in-europe-and-central-asia-e-9781464822872","title":"TIDES of Change (E): Igniting Productivity Growth in Europe and Central Asia (E)","description":"Europe and Central Asia (ECA) stands at a critical juncture. After the global financial crisis, growth slowed sharply, overwhelmingly due to a collapse in productivity, while capital and labor contributions remained steady. Efficiency gaps now loom larger than capital gaps, with the widespread misallocation of labor and capital-- exacerbated by stalled reforms, weak market contestability, and the drag of underperforming state-owned enterprises-- holding back convergence. Drawing on a novel dataset of more than 40 million firm-level observations across sectors and countries, TIDES of Change: Restoring Prosperity Through Productivity shows that removing distortions could raise aggregate productivity by 30- 85 percent, with especially large gains in less advanced economies. The payoff is substantial: faster wage growth, more and better jobs, and a restored path to higher living standards. The report sets out a practical path to reignite convergence by riding the TIDES of higher productivity-- Trade, Investment, Digital, Efficiency, and Skills. It calls for reconnecting to dynamic markets and cutting trade costs; anchoring quality FDI and amplifying spillovers; turning connectivity into intensive digital use; leveling the playing field and unleashing reallocation; aligning talent and driving a lifelong upskilling. With limited fiscal space, first-best reforms and targeted support must be paired with stronger institutions that embed productivity at the core of national strategies. The central challenge in the region is not a lack of capital or connectivity, but their effective use.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e World Bank Publications\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 12\/16\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781464822872\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 182\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.45lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 10.48h x 7.81w x 0.64d","brand":"Gianmarco Ottaviano,Ana Cusolito,Iv\u0026#195;\u0026#161;n Torre","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52715577376949,"sku":"9781464822872","price":42.08,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/tides-of-change-e-igniting-productivity-growth-in-europe-and-central-asia-e-9781464822872","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}