The tragedy of zero productivity gains in the large euro-zone countries
In the recent period, productivity gains have been zero (or even negative) in Germany, Italy and Spain and very low in France. This situation is tragic for these countries: Potential growth is zero in Italy and very low in Germany, France and Spain. When the unemployment rate reaches the level of the structural unemployment rate, growth will vanish; Either real wages will track productivity (Spain) and purchasing power will stagnate, leading to social and political tensions; or real wages will grow faster than productivity (Germany, France, Italy) and corporate profitability and cost competitiveness will deteriorate.