productivity miracle or workhouse?

[Brad De Long]

>Seth Ackerman wrote:
>
>>What do you make of Robert J. Gordon's analysis of the productivity
>>stats? He finds that all of the recent increase in prod. growth comes from
>>the computer manufacturing sector--which makes up only 1% of the economy.
>>The other 99% of the economy has had SLOWER productivity growth in 1996-99
>>than in any other period since WWII.
>
>It's persuasive, but then I'm biased. I've just emailed Gordon to 
>see if he's changed his mind because of the latest, rather high, 
>numbers.
>
>Doug

1%? Meaning that an extra 1% per year aggregate total factor 
productivity growth from computer manufacture implies that computer 
manufacturing total factor productivity is doubling every year?

Brad DeLong