60-Industry Database

The 60-Industry Database provides a comprehensive internationally comparable dataset on industrial performance at a detailed industry level for OECD countries and Taiwan. Variables covered include value added in current and constant prices, value added deflators, persons engaged, hours worked and labour productivity. The data cover 56 industries for the period 1979-2003. The database is described in detail in the following document about data sources and methodology.

The first version of this database was constructed in 2003 in co-operation with the National Institute for Economic and Social Research and was financially supported by the European Commission, DG Enterprise. The database has been updated regularly (see below for previous versions) since. This September 2006 update is a partial update, with only updates for Australia, Canada and the United States. The differences with the October 2005 version of the 60-industry database are described in the comparison with the previous version. From this year onwards there is also a "flat file" in txt format with all variables, years and countries on one sheet, which can be used for loading data into statistical programmes.

The database is comparable with the OECD STAN Database, which was used as the point of departure here. However, in order to reach a greater degree of industry detail, and to provide a comprehensive dataset without gaps, OECD STAN data were complemented with information from industry and services statistics and additional (historical) national accounts data for individual countries. The spreadsheets associated with each of the country files (sources and methods) provide a full account of the sources used for each country, each year and each variable.

It should be stressed that the estimates for the total economy are aggregated across industries and that, given several adjustments at industry level, the aggregate results are not fully consistent with the national accounts aggregates (see the sources and methods document). It is also underlined that value data in this database are expressed in national prices. Hence figures for EU countries in euros do therefore not reflect a correction for purchasing power parities (see for example, ICOP Industry Database for PPP converted estimates for manufacturing industries).

Downloadable country files:

A detailed example of the computation of aggregate deflators using the Tornqvist index can be found in a separate example-file.
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) has published a note about chained-dollar indexes. This note explains the advantages of chain indexes and why value added in constant prices cannot simply be added up if it is calculated using a chain-weighted index. The BEA uses Fisher indices to aggregate across industries while the GGDC uses Törnqvist indices. The practical differences between the indices will normally be quite small.

The responsibility for this database is entirely that of the Groningen Growth and Development Centre, and not that of the European Commission or any other institution.

Previous versions of this database

The 60-Industry database has been extended, updated and improved over time. The earlier versions of the database that have been used in the papers below are still available for replicating results:

• 60-Industry Database (October 2005)
  

• 60-Industry Database (February 2005)
  

• 60-Industry Database (October 2004)
  

• O'Mahony, M. and van Ark, B., eds.(2003), EU Productivity and Competitiveness: An Industry Perspective Can Europe Resume the Catching-up Process?, Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg, 2003.
  Underlying data:
  60-Industry Database (October 2003)
  

• Ark, B. van, R. Inklaar and R.H. McGuckin (2002), 'Changing Gear': Productivity, ICT and Service Industries: Europe and the United States, GGDC Research Memorandum GD-60.
  Underlying data:
  60-Industry Database (July 2003)
  

• Ark, B. van (2001), The Renewal of the Old Economy: Europe in an Internationally Comparative Perspective, OECD STI Working Paper, no. 2001/5
  Underlying data:
  ICT Database (2001). This version uses a somewhat different classification of ICT-using industries and covers the period from 1990 to 1998-1999.

Examples of research based on this database

• The 60-Industry Database has been originally devised for a study developed by the Groningen Growth and Development Centre and the National Institute for Economic and Social Research, which was was commissioned by the European Commission, DG Enterprise. This study, EU Productivity and Competitiveness: An Industry Perspective Can Europe Resume the Catching-up Process? (M. O'Mahony and B. van Ark, Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg, 2003)gives a clear view of the productivity situation of the countries in the European Union.

• A study by the European Commission, DG ECFIN, An analysis of EU and US productivity developments: a total economy and industry level perspective (Cécile Denis, Kieran McMorrow and Werner Röger, DG for Economic and Financial Affairs, 2004) makes a detailed policy-related analysis.

• A study, Fostering excellence: Challenges for productivity growth in Europe , which was prepared for the Dutch presidency of the European Union as a background document for the Informal Competitiveness Council Maastricht (1st-3rd July 2004).