productivity is often compared with that of Japan. Recent trends in Japanese and American productivity are presented in Table 1, which may be found below on this page.
Table 1
Output per Hour Index: Japan and the United States
Selected Years from 1960 1989 (Inclusive)
(1977=100)
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Year Japan United States
1960 23.2 62.2
1970 64.8 8O.8
1973 83.1 93.4
1976 94.3 97.1
1977 100.0 100.0
1979 114.8 101.4
1980 122.7 101.4
1981 127.2 1O3.6
1982 135.0 105.9
1983 142.3 112.9
1984 152.2 118.5
1985 159.9 121.8
[table continued from preceding page]
Year Japan United States
1986 163.0 124.9
1987 165.9 126.1
1988 167.0 129.0
1989 168.5 130.8
[Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1990]
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The data presented in Table 1 do not indicate that produc tivity in Japan is hig...