service productivity

[Doug Henwood]

Just spoke with the guy who's responsible for those service sector 
productivity figures. Almost all the big numbers come from small 
sectors, and almost all the gains are attributable to output 
increases, and not some heroic feats of productivity. In other words, 
I asked the guy, "You mean one salesperson can sell 2 TVs about as 
easily as 1?," he said yes, that was it. Or one photographer can do 
20 portraits instead of 17, with a bit less time for latte breaks.

The size of the industry seems to matter a lot - note that in the big 
ones, like  eating & drinking establishments, grocery stores, and 
commercial banking, productivity gains were small; the big gains were 
in tiny industries, where the data collection is a lot noisier.

So I withdraw the spirit of Billy Liar remark.

Doug