一国的生活水平取决于其生产物品和劳务的能力

A country's standard of living depends on its ability to produce goods and services

The differences in living standard around the world are staggering． In 1997 the average American had an income of about $29，000.In the same year，the average Mexican earned $8，000，and the average Nigerian earned $900. Not surprisingly，this large variation in average income is reflected in various measures of the quality of life． Citizens of high-income countries have more TV sets，more cars，better nutrition，better health care，and longer life expectancy than citizens of low-income countries．

Changes in living standards over time are also large． In the United States，incomes have historically grown about 2 percent per year (after adjusting for changes in the cost of living). At this rate，average income doubles every 35 years.Over the past century，average income has risen about eightfold．

What explains these large differences in living standards among countries and over time? The answer is surprisingly simple． Almost all variation in living standards is attributable to differences in countries' productivity—that is，the amount of goods and services produced from each hour of a worker's time． In nations where workers can produce a large quantity of goods and services per unit of time，most people enjoy a high standard of living; in nations where workers are less productive，most people must endure a more meager existence．Similarly，the growth rate of a nation's productivity determines the growth rate of its average income．

The fundamental relationship between productivity and living standards is simple，but its implications are far-reaching.If productivity is the primary determinant of living standards，other explanations must be of secondary importance.For example，it might be tempting to credit labor unions or minimum-wage laws for the rise in living standards of American workers over the past century． Yet the real hero of American workers is their rising productivity． As another example，some commentators have claimed that increased competition from Japan and other countries explains the slow growth in U.S. Yet the real villain is not competition from abroad but flagging productivity growth in the United States．

The relationship between productivity and living standards also has profound implications for public policy.When thinking about how any policy will affect living standards，the key question is how it will affect our ability to produce goods and services.To boost living standards，policymakers need to raise productivity by ensuring that workers are well educated，have the tools needed to produce goods and services，and have access to the best available technology．

一国的生活水平取决于其生产物品和劳务的能力

世界各国的生活水平的差别是惊人的。1997年，美国人的平均收入为2.9万美元。同一年，墨西哥人的平均收入为8000美元，而尼日利亚人的平均收入为900美元。毫不奇怪，这种平均收入的巨大差别反映在生活质量的各种均衡指标上。高收入国家的公民比低收入国家的公民拥有更多的电视机、更多的汽车、更好的营养、更好的医疗保健，以及更长的寿命。

随着时间的推移，生活水平的变化也很大。在美国，从历史上看，收入的增长每年为2%左右(根据生活费用变动进行调整之后)。按这个比率，平均收入每35年翻一番。过去的一个世纪中，平均收入大约增长了8倍。

用什么来解释各国和不同时期中生活水平的巨大差别呢? 答案之简单让人出乎意料。几乎所有生活水平的变动都可以归因于各国生产率的差别——这就是一个工人一小时所生产的物品与劳务量的差别。在那些工人生产率低的国家，大多数人必须忍受贫困的生活。同样，一国的生产率增长率决定了平均收入增长率。

生产率和生活水平之间的基本关系是简单的，但它的意义是深远的。如果生产率是生活水平的首要决定因素，那么，其他解释的重要性就应该是次要的。

例如，有人想把上个世纪美国工人生活水平的提高归功于工会或最低工资法，但美国工人的真正英雄是他们提高的生产率。另一个例子是，一些评论家声称，美国近年来收入增长慢是由于日本和其他国家日益激烈的竞争。但真正的敌人不是来自国外的竞争，而是美国生产率增长的放慢。

生产率与生活水平之间的关系对公共政策也有深远的含义。在考虑任何一项政策如何影响生活水平时，关键问题是政策如何影响我们生产物品与劳务的能力。为了提高生活水平，决策者需要通过让工人受到良好的教育，拥有生产物品与劳务需要的工具，以及得到获取最好技术的机会来提高生产率。