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Stronger Federal Effort Needed To Foster Private Sector Productivity

AFMD-81-29 Published: Feb 18, 1981. Publicly Released: Feb 18, 1981.
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Highlights

U.S. productivity growth has declined dramatically over the past 12 years. In the past 3 years, it has virtually ceased. Recognizing the importance of productivity, the President established the National Productivity Council and assigned private sector productivity responsibilities to the Departments of Labor and Commerce. The Council was to guide and coordinate these and other Federal efforts to improve productivity and to serve as the Government's primary contact with the private sector on productivity issues. GAO examined the effectiveness of the Council regarding private sector productivity.

Recommendations

Matter for Congressional Consideration

Matter Status Comments
Congress should enact legislation to establish a National Productivity Council with a full-time, presidentially appointed chairperson and with its own budget authorization. The main functon of the Council would be to prepare, with the involvement of private sector representatives, a national productivity plan. The substance of such an organization is included in S. 2417, a bill introduced in the 96th Congress that incorporates previous GAO recommendations.
Closed – Not Implemented
Further action on this subject will await the findings and recommendations of the planned White House Conference on Productivity.

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Topics

Advisory committeesAgency missionsEconomic analysisEconomic policiesIndustrial productivityInteragency relationsNoncompliancePrivate sectorSmall businessProductivity in government