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Measuring Virgin Islands productivity

Dickson C. Igwe. Photo: VINO/File
Dickson C. Igwe

Pursuing a national vision for a prosperous Virgin Islands means adopting an understanding of the country’s capital mix – land, human resources, and technology- its wealth-generating assets, as the tool of change.

GDP is insufficient as a measure of productivity in an economy. Productivity – the human effort in the capital mix- drives the specific outcomes that achieve a country’s vision.

Now, GDP – Gross Domestic Product- is a useful economic measure. GDP measures output in terms of all of the products and services of the various sectors of the economy. GDP is the value of all the goods and services produced in the Virgin Islands in a single year. GDP evaluates economic cycles and activities within a fixed period. GDP compares present and past economic cycles, and then economists and statisticians evaluate that information in an attempt to answer specific questions and offer reasons to why the economy behaves in a specific manner. 

However, GDP does not measure a country’s wealth-generating assets, only the products generated by a country’s capital mix. Productivity on the other hand, speaks to the human effort in producing goods and services. Productivity is the human element in the capital mix. GDP and productivity are different things, albeit both subjects link to each other.

Now, how do the value and supply chains – the flow of the capital mix- of each economic sector affect GDP? GDP is not the measure of productivity in an economy, as GDP fails to measure sufficiently the intangible – invisible- resources that drive wealth such as culture, learning and human effort.  

One measure of Productivity is national output divided by labor hours. However, this measure is uncertain and ambiguous in my opinion. This is a traditional productivity measure that does not evaluate productivity sufficiently enough to make the measure meaningful.

Then there are the asymmetric – external- factors that hinder a labor force no matter how efficient the symmetry – straight-line order- in the value supply chains. Asymmetric factors such as poor weather, fiscal and monetary anomalies, and war, stifle GDP. That does not mean the workforce of the country is inefficient. Ukraine is an example of asymmetric factors devastating the economy.

GDP measures the total value of products and services produced in the Virgin Islands in terms of revenue only; however, GDP cannot measure productivity effectively, even with knowledge of hours worked in relation to GDP and the unique culture of the workforce. 

Productivity is more than rent or revenue earned from this or that economic sector of the Virgin Islands over a specific period. Productivity is the human effort that drives up or down the country’s GDP: its prosperity. Productivity is action focused on achieving specific economic outcomes.

Pursuing productivity is more important to achieving prosperity than simply gazing at increasing GDP.

4 Responses to “Measuring Virgin Islands productivity”

  • jack (20/04/2024, 15:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Another good read but the private sector must be applauded more
  • THANKS BRO (20/04/2024, 16:38) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    ITS LIKE A BREATH OF FRESH AIR WHEN YOU CAN READ AND LEARN SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE / ALL WE READING IS RACIAL NARRITIVES DAILY ON THIS SITE , ITS CRAZY TO EVEN IMAGINE WHAT GOES ON IN
    A PERSON'S MIND THAT CAN ENERGIZE THEM TO SPEW OUT THAT KIND OF SH*T FOR PEOPLE TO READ , WHICH IS SENDING OUT A MESSAGE THAT THERE IS A MENTALLY NARCISSISTIC INDIVIDUAL ON THE LOOSE HERE , AND ARROGANT ENOUGH TO BELIEVE TO HIMSELF THAT HE IS SOME KIND OF A GOD , SOME SAY HE IS SCARY WITH OR WITH THE WIG
  • Stealth (21/04/2024, 13:24) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    GDP, HDI, productivity etc, are critical factors in the territory’s growth and development. What is productivity and how is it measured? The US Department of Labor defines productivity as, “ Productivity is a measure of economic performance that compares the amount of goods and services produced (output) with the amount of inputs used to produce those goods and services.” Therefore, the lower the productivity the input it will require to produce a unit of output. For example, estimators may calculate that it will cost approximately $1,000,000 to construct a mike of asphalt road. However, this is assuming a certain level of productivity, so if the level of productivity is lower that estimated the cost per mile of road will increase and less road work will get done. It takes hand on effort to attain a high level of productivity. Productivity will never be at a 100%; that is un realistic. On the other hand, effort must be employed to keep it at a practical level, ie, 72-80%. Further, employees are expected to work 8 hours a day, but typically an employer can expect an average of 6.5 hours per day. What is the national productivity of the BVI?
    • GateKeeper (21/04/2024, 18:18) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      The national productivity probably ranges between 50-60% ,dragged down by the public sector which is even markedly lower..This low productivity is a drag on national output, on growth and development, and on delivery of government services. Low productivity requires higher revenue to operate, to deliver services, etc..It is important for government to know what’ the current level of productivity is and what the number of man hours, FTEs, dollars, etc needed to bring the level of productivity up to a practical level, ie, 72%. Along with what it will take, to maintain it at a practical level and increase it.


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