U.S. WorkersWorld's Most Productive

Americans work longer hours than those in most other rich nations. Americans also produce more per person during theyear, but only part of the U.S. productivity growth can be explained by the longer hours Americans work. Americans also create more wealth per hour of work. U.S. employees worked an average of1,804 hours in2006, compared to1,564.4 for theFrench, but far less than the2,200 hours that Asians worked. But the Asian countries the average labour productivity is lower.

A.

As the level of productivityincreases, the growth rate of productivity also increases.

B.

The level of productivity is the same as the growth rate of productivity.

C.

Changing the number of hours employed changes the level ofproductivity, but it does not change the growth of productivity.

D.

Changing the number of hours employed has no effect on either the level of productivity or the growth of productivity. Productivity is determined by capital accumulation and technological change.