Macroeconomic Determinants of Saudi Total Factor Productivity

Abstract

Traditionally, labor productivity has been modelled as driven by capital accumulation, and the technology issue is exogenous. However, this model has been unable to sufficiently explain growth, and recent thinking on growth has given prominence to other factors such as technological advancement, human capital, and research and development. This has led to new growth models. This study employed the conventional growth accounting framework and aimed to estimate the total factor productivity in Saudi Arabia from 1970 to 2015. Additionally, it aimed to explore the macroeconomic determinants that affect total factor productivity. The results confirmed that economic stability, trade openness, and human factor development have positive impacts on total factor productivity. Interestingly, private credit by banks has a negative impact on Saudi total factor productivity. Negative relationships were also found between total factor productivity and the variables of population growth and government consumption.