Nova SBE Public Policy Institute Launches a Laboratory to Improve Productivity in Portugal
Research | 27 January 2025 Nova SBE Public Policy Institute Launches a Laboratory to Improve Productivity in Portugal

The Productivity Laboratory—the latest project by the newly created Nova SBE Public Policy Institute, with the support of the Haddad Foundation—is officially launched today on Nova SBE’s Carcavelos campus.

Productivity is a critical factor in determining citizens' living standards: countries with more productive businesses and workers can offer higher wages, better working conditions, and broader public services.

Although indicators confirm an improvement in productivity in Portugal since 2019, the country remains in an unfavorable position compared to most EU Member States. In 2019, productivity in Portugal was 76,4 % of the European average (ranking 22nd in the EU), while estimates from the European Commission for 2023 indicate an increase to 80,5 %, placing the country in 21st position.

Dedicated to analyzing and researching productivity, the new laboratory is distinguished by its production of practical and actionable research that is capable of generating concrete public policy proposals for rapid implementation to improve productivity in Portugal.

The areas of study will include the determinants of business and labor productivity in Portugal and international comparisons, resource reallocation among organizations as a driver of productivity growth, productivity in the public sector, and the role of education and training in increasing labor productivity.

The Productivity Laboratory will commence its activities by launching:

  • Calls for Nova SBE researchers to develop action-research projects (collaborative projects involving external partners and integrating both scientific and impact-oriented components);
  • Workshops to analyze problems and identify concrete solutions, defining additional research required to enhance proposals;
  • Engagement, capacity building, and involvement of relevant policymakers to advocate for better microdata availability on critical variables for studying productivity and related public policies.
     

Productivity-related themes will also be enhanced through various activities organized by the Nova SBE Public Policy Institute throughout 2025, including, among others, the Public Policy Debate Competition (to be held from February to April) and the Policy Circle program (an initiative that bridges and fosters knowledge exchange between academia and civil society).

Pedro Oliveira, Dean of Nova SBE, emphasizes that "the Productivity Laboratory of our Public Policy Institute reflects Nova SBE’s commitment to transforming knowledge into impact, uniting academia, the public, and private sectors to address one of our country’s greatest challenges. Improving productivity is essential to ensuring a more prosperous and sustainable future."

"Portugal has the potential to be a high-level economy, but it is not. The difference largely lies in productivity levels," adds Luís Cabral, Academic Director of the Nova SBE Public Policy Institute.

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