The DOI matches its Crossref record; 22 of the 23 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 5 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.
The productivity paradox of information technology
Open accessAbstract
The relationship between information technology (IT) and productivity is widely discussed but little understood.Delivered computing power in the U.S. economy has increased by more than two orders of magnitude since 1970 (Figure 1) yet productivity; especially in the B u s i n e s s C o m p u t i n g 1~ble 2. Studies of IT in M a n u f a c t u r i n g 'robl® 3. Studies of IT in Services
Overview
CoChat Summary
TL;DR
Brynjolfsson reviews the “IT productivity paradox”—large increases in computing power and IT investment without clear aggregate productivity gains—and argues the shortfall is at least partly due to measurement and methodological deficiencies rather than solely mismanagement. He organizes explanations into measurement errors, lags, redistribution, and mismanagement, and notes that some firm-level evidence finds high returns to IT.
Key findings
- U.S. delivered computing power increased by more than two orders of magnitude since 1970 while service-sector productivity stagnated; Solow’s summary is quoted: “we see computers everywhere except in the productivity statistics.”
- Roach’s cited statistics indicate output per production worker grew 16.9% between the mid-1970s and 1986, while output per information worker decreased 6.6%.
- Four explanations for the paradox are assessed: measurement errors, lags, redistribution, and mismanagement. The paper argues measurement difficulties may account for “the lion’s share” of the gap; Baily and Gordon’s revisions add 2.3% per year to productivity between 1973 and 1987 in finance, insurance, and real estate.
- Brynjolfsson and Hitt found service firms’ return on investment averaged over 60% per year, and the study with the largest and most detailed data set found no productivity shortfall. Lags are also noted: executives expected up to five years for IT payoffs, and an econometric study found two-to-three-year lags.
Methods
- Review and synthesis, not new primary data collection.
- Based on a computerized literature search of 30 leading journals in information systems and economics, plus discussions with leading researchers.
- Assesses principal empirical studies of IT and productivity across manufacturing and services and evaluates four hypotheses for the paradox.
Limitations
- The paper states there is still no definitive answer to whether IT’s productivity impact has actually been unusually low; research tools remain “blunt,” and the measurement problem is becoming more severe. It also cautions that “a shortfall of evidence is not necessarily evidence of a shortfall.”
- The paper states that studies usually spell out data and method limitations, but media may report only surprising conclusions, and managers tend to overemphasize productivity studies.
- Evident from the text: as a literature review, its conclusions depend on cited studies and their measurement and methodological limitations; it provides no new empirical estimates.
Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
0 Valid · 0 Not valid · 5 Not checked · 8 Own results and interpretations
A result the paper reports from its own data — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“The sharp drop in productivity roughly coincided with the rapid increase in the use of IT (Figure 1).”
§ THE PRODUCTIVITY PARADOX OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY > EconomywJde Productivity and the Information Worker
plainstates an association- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
A statement the paper makes itself — it cites no source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“Econometric estimates have also indicated low IT capital productivity in a variety of manufacturing and service industries.”
§ THE PRODUCTIVITY PARADOX OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY > Dimensions of the Paradox
hedged- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“While a number of dimensions of the paradox are disturbing and provoking, we still do not have a definitive answer to the question of whether the productivity impact of IT has actually been unusually low.”
§ THE PRODUCTIVITY PARADOX OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY > Conclusion
plain- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
In the paper
“Using a standard production function approach, Brynjolfsson and Hitt Business Computing [7] found that for the service firms in their sample, return on investment averaged over 60% per year.”
§ THE PRODUCTIVITY PARADOX OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY > COMMUNI CATI ONS OF THE ACM
What the sources say
- Not matchedcites [7]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
plain- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: unclear — It is unclear whether the paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
- Not matched
In the paper
“This accords with a recent econometric study by Brynjolfsson et al. [8] which found lags of two-tothree years before the strongest organizational impacts of IT were felt.”
§ THE PRODUCTIVITY PARADOX OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY > Lags
What the sources say
- Not matchedcites [8]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
plainstates a cause- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
- Not matched
5 more claims
Create a free account to see all 13 claims and every source verdict.
- It may state two separate claims as one. 2
- Probably not a substantial claim. 1
Citations
Cites
Reengineering Work: Don’t Automate, Obliterate
Hammer, M. M. (1990) · Cited by 2,908
Does Information Technology Lead to Smaller Firms?
Brynjolfsson, E., Malone, T. W., Gurbaxani, V., & Kambil, A. (1994) · Management Science · doi:10.1287/mnsc.40.12.1628 · Cited by 682
Self-citationThe Business Value of Computers: An Executive's Guide
Strassmann, P. A. (1990) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 553
The Productivity Slowdown, Measurement Issues, and the Explosion of Computer Power
Baily, M. N., Gordon, R. J., Nordhaus, W. D., & Romer, D. (1988) · Brookings Papers on Economic Activity · doi:10.2307/2534534 · Cited by 391
Evaluation of strategic investments in information technology
Clemons, E. K. (1991) · Communications of the ACM · doi:10.1145/99977.99985 · Cited by 384
Services under siege--the restructuring imperative.
Roach, S. S. (1991) · PubMed · Cited by 350
Computers, Networks and the Corporation
Malone, T. W., & Rockart, J. F. (1991) · Scientific American · doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0991-128 · Cited by 342
Cron, W. L., & Sobol, M. G. (1983) · Information & Management · doi:10.1016/0378-7206(83)90034-4 · Cited by 290
IS INFORMATION SYSTEMS SPENDING PRODUCTIVE? NEW EVIDENCE AND NEW RESULTS
Brynjolfsson, E., & Hitt, L. M. (1993) · DSpace@MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) · Cited by 205
Self-citationPurchased Services, Outsourcing, Computers, and Productivity in Manufacturing
Siegel, D. S., & Griliches, Z. (1991) · National Bureau of Economic Research · doi:10.3386/w3678 · Cited by 192
Research works printed but not linked: 11
- Alpar P, 1990, Proceedings of the Twenty- Second Hawaiian International Conference On System Science (Honolufu. Hawaii
- Baily M.N., 1988, Brooking~ Papers on Economic A ctivi~,, W.C. Brainard, and G.I., Perry.
- Berndt E.R., 1991, National Bureau of Economic Research Manuscript
- Brooke G, 1991, University of Minnesota
- 10.5555/3217170.3217173 · doi:10.5555/3217170.3217173
- Harris S.E., 1989, Prorceedings of the Twenty--Second Hawaikm International Conqference ~m System Science (Honolulu
- Loveman G.W., July, 1988.
- Noyelle T., Ed., 1990, the Service Sector. Westview Press, Boulder, Col.
- Siegel D., Apr., 1991
- Strassmann A., 1990, Conn.
- Weill P. Do Computers Pay Off? iCII Press Washington D.C. 1990. Weill P. Do Computers Pay Off? iCII Press Washington D.C. 1990.
Cited by
Items 2,301–2,400 of 2,614
Managing Employees in Industry 4.0 Manufacturing Small and Medium Enterprises
Trotta, D. (2018) · Padua@research (University of Padova)
Wachstumspfade zur Überwindung des Digitalisierungsparadoxes
Posselt, T., Gebauer, H., & Arzt, A. (2020) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-658-31563-4_23
Essays in Real Estate Securities and Financial Institutions
Feng, Z. (2019) · FIU - Digital Commons (Florida International University) · doi:10.25148/etd.fidc007768
The Determinants of Economic Competitiveness
Kluge, J., Lappöhn, S., & Plank, K. (2020) · Social Science Open Access Repository (GESIS – Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences)
How do Investments in R&D and Information Technology Interact on Firm Performance?
Olcay, G. A., Bardhan, I. R., & Krishnan, V. (2017) · Girişimcilik ve inovasyon yönetimi dergisi
Managing Change and Measuring Performance
Stupak, R. J. (2006) · doi:10.1201/9781420017014-9
Is Software Eating Economic Growth?Preprint
Wimble, M. (2017) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.3026262
COMPLEMENTARIEDAD ENTRE TIC'S E I+D: UN ANÁLISIS CON PANELES DINÁMICOSPreprint
Egana-delSol, P. A., & Bravo‐Ortega, C. (2010) · RePEc: Research Papers in Economics
Editors’ reflections and introduction to the special section on “Societal Impact of Bright ICT”
Ayaburi, E. W. Y. (2021) · International Journal of Information Management · doi:10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2021.102314
Tech Mirages, The Worship of Innovation, The Open Office and Creative Destruction: The End of Value
Caldararo, N. (2016) · Anthropology · doi:10.4172/2332-0915.1000167
The Midlife Crisis of IT: Accurate Versus Inaccurate Perception of IT Effects
Bayer, M., Haug, A., Lombardi, J., & Hvam, L. (2021) · Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS) · doi:10.24251/hicss.2021.810
Rationalization of Productivity of Information Technology Through Business Value
Singhal, T. K., Sinha, S., & Vashisht, A. (2016) · Delhi Business Review · doi:10.51768/dbr.v17i1.171201615
Goller, T., & Aranyossy, M. (2020) · Köz-gazdaság · doi:10.14267/retp2020.04.12
Management Emotion and Firm’s Propensity of Strategic IT Investment
Wang, N., Zheng, W., & Zhang, W. (2021) · Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS) · doi:10.24251/hicss.2021.808
Information Technology's Impact on Cost Management and Control in the Healthcare Context
Lee, L. S. (2007) · Journal of the Association for Information Systems
What habbo goers do in practice? decomposing attitudinal beliefs
Ozcelik, Y., & Altınkemer, K. (2009) · Journal of the Association for Information Systems
Tipping Point Pandemie – Chance für die Wirtschaftsinformatik?
Alt, R., & Robra-Bissantz, S. (2021) · HMD Praxis der Wirtschaftsinformatik · doi:10.1365/s40702-021-00757-5
Advancement level of logistic information management systems in Polish agri-food industry
Jałowiecki, P. (2020) · Ekonomika i Organizacja Logistyki · doi:10.22630/eiol.2020.5.1.4
- Retracted
Business Value from ICT Investments: A Configurational Exploratory Perspective
Bogarin, R. (2021) · Lecture notes in networks and systems · doi:10.1007/978-981-16-2377-6_70
«Strategic alignment, IT literacy, collective IS use»: elements driving the IT value proposition
Negoita, B. (2015) · eScholarship@McGill (McGill) · doi:10.82308/5683
Ancillary Activity and ProductivityPreprint
Carvalho, S. (2020) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.3715812
Manufacturing Industry in the Age of Fourth Industrial Revolution using a Dematel Approach
Mulongo, N. Y., Kanakana-Katumba, G. M., & Mnkandla, E. (2021) · Advances in Science Technology and Engineering Systems Journal · doi:10.25046/aj060536
First Things First: The Hidden Cost of Poor Governance
Griffiths, P. (2021) · Palgrave studies in accounting and finance practice · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-78873-5_3
Some Determinants of Lebanese Banking Performance
Chalabi, F. T. (2018)
L’approche économétrique pour évaluer l’intérêt financier des systémes d’information hospitaliers
Meyer, R., & Patrice Degoulet, A. (2009) · Informatique et santé · doi:10.1007/978-2-287-99305-3_1
Towards a Design for IT Performance Management
Mohajeri, K. (2011) · Journal of the Association for Information Systems
Lempinen, H., & Penttinen, E. (2009) · Journal of the Association for Information Systems
BMGT 808I Doctoral Seminar in Information Systems
Stewart, K., & Stewart, K. (2003)
Bieri, D. S., Helmedag, F., Horn, K. I., & Thomsen, S. L. (2020) · Duncker & Humblot eBooks · doi:10.2307/j.ctv24q548f
(2017) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781405164030.refs
Managing Change and Measuring Performance
(2006) · Public administration and public policy · doi:10.1201/9781420017014.ch6
(2017) · Advances in business strategy and competitive advantage book series · doi:10.4018/978-1-5225-2179-2.ch002
Murphy, J. T., & Carmody, P. (2015) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781118751282.bref
(2006) · Deutscher Universitätsverlag eBooks · doi:10.1007/3-8350-5705-7_11
Avançando a discussão teórica sobre a gestão do portfólio de TI e suas dimensões
Dolci, P. C., Maçada, A. C. G., & Pedrozo, E. Á. (2014) · Revista de Gestão · doi:10.5700/rege531
The Economic Function of Network Economy: A Case Study of North America
(2022) · Journal of Global Economy Business and Finance · doi:10.53469/jgebf.2022.04(03).07
Chasing an Elusive Target: Measuring Productivity Growth under Factor-Biased Technical ChangePreprint
Åkerman, A., & Gaarder, I. (2022) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.4058516
Integrating Sustainability Into IT/IS Project Evaluation Methods
Silvius, G. (2022) · IGI Global eBooks · doi:10.4018/978-1-6684-4503-7.ch033
Wood, D. (2021) · Carleton University's Institutional Repository (MacOdrum Library, Carleton University) · doi:10.22215/etd/2021-14900
Towards an analytical model for collaboration to secure cyber space
Hattangadi, N. (2015) · Research Repository (Delft University of Technology)
Special Section: Strategic and Competitive Information Systems
Clemons, E. K., & Weber, B. W. (1996) · Journal of Management Information Systems · doi:10.1080/07421222.1996.11518120
Vlachos, I. P., Fritz, M. M. C., Ruel, S., & Kumar, P. V. (2021) · International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management · doi:10.1108/ijppm-06-2021-684
HOW TO MEASURE INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES PERFORMANCE: A LITERATURE REVIEW
Castel, A. G., & Górriz, C. G. (2007) · Issues in Information Systems · doi:10.48009/2_iis_2007_89-96
Linking the Impact of IT Investments to Productivity and Profitability
Rao, M. P., & Mandal, P. (2012) · IGI Global eBooks · doi:10.4018/978-1-4666-2464-1.ch011
Personnel Performance Management in IT eSourcing Environments
Hernández-López, A., Colomo‐Palacios, R., García-Crespo, Á., Martín, F. P., & Soto‐Acosta, P. (2011) · IGI Global eBooks · doi:10.4018/978-1-60960-587-2.ch603
Techno-Unemployment?Preprint
García‐Murillo, M., MacInnes, I., & Bauer, J. M. (2015) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.2588160
(2018) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-1-78548-287-8.50035-3
Sustainable Advantages of Business Value of Information Technology
Romero, J. A. (2018) · Advances in logistics, operations, and management science book series · doi:10.4018/978-1-5225-7362-3.ch040
IMPACTO DA GOVERNANÇA E GESTÃO DE TI NOS RESULTADOS DAS ORGANIZAÇÕES BRASILEIRAS
DIAS, C. M. V. E. M. (2018) · doi:10.17771/pucrio.acad.35934
Weitzel, T., & Heinzl, A. (2015) · Journal of Business Economics · doi:10.1007/s11573-015-0764-6
Kuhn, M. M. (2003) · Deutscher Universitätsverlag eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-322-81498-2_7
Krcmar, H. (2015) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-45863-1_1
(2014) · Advances in logistics, operations, and management science book series · doi:10.4018/978-1-4666-5986-5.ch008
Sustainability Evaluation of IT/IS Projects
Silvius, G. (2017) · IGI Global eBooks · doi:10.4018/978-1-5225-3817-2.ch002
Measuring the Impact of IT in the Swedish Logging Industry
(2011) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9780203134528-16
Stickel, E. U., Groffmann, H.-D., & Rau, K. (1997) · Gabler Verlag eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-663-12126-8_16
Internet Incidence on SME’s Sales: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis
Alderete, M. V. (2013) · Advances in e-business research series · doi:10.4018/978-1-4666-4510-3.ch010
The Impact of Technology in the Field of Accounting in Small and Medium Enterpresis
(2019) · International Journal of Recent Technology and Engineering (IJRTE) · doi:10.35940/ijrte.d1099.1284s319
Organisation de coopération et de développement économiques. (1998) · doi:10.1787/9789264263512-fr
Nöhren, M. (2015) · Progress in IS · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-23926-2_1
Finding the Role of Time Lags in Radio Frequency Identification Investment
Lee, C.-P., & Eun, H.-K. (2013) · IGI Global eBooks · doi:10.4018/978-1-4666-2782-6.ch013
Bridging from E-Government Practice to E-Government Research: Past Trends and Future DirectionsPreprint
Weare, C. (2009) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.1516702
Human Performance Variability: An Evolutionary Perspective
Smith, T. J., Henning, R. A., Wade, M. G., & Fisher, T. (2014) · CRC Press eBooks · doi:10.1201/b17319-15
Cresswell, K. M., Sheikh, A., Franklin, B. D., Hinder, S., Nguyen, H. T., Krasuska, M., Lane, W., Mozaffar, H., Mason, K., Eason, S., et al. (2021) · doi:10.2196/preprints.30792
Thirst for Business Value of Information Technology
Marthandan, G., & Meng, T. C. (2012) · Advances in knowledge acquisition, transfer, and management book series/Advances in knowledge acquisition, transfer and management book series · doi:10.4018/978-1-4666-1752-0.ch003
Are expectations for parallelism too high? a survey of potential parallel users
Cook, C. R., Pancake, C. M., & Walpole, R. (1994) · ACM/IEEE Conference on Supercomputing (SC) · doi:10.1145/602795.602797
(2019) · Advances in logistics, operations, and management science book series · doi:10.4018/978-1-7998-2760-3.ch008
Paradoxien bei der Nutzung von Informationssystemen
Schütte, R. (2022) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-658-34616-4_3
Butler, M. J. (2022) · South African Journal of Business Management · doi:10.4102/sajbm.v52i1.2774
SILVA, M. J., LAURINDO, F. J. B., & Kissimoto, K. O. (2022) · CONTECSI - International Conference on Information Systems and Technology Management · doi:10.5748/18contecsi/pse/dsc/6778
Fernandes, R., Carey, D., Bortoluzzi, B. S. K., & McArthur, J. (2022) · doi:10.32920/19749967
Impact of e-infrastructure stimulus on the biodiversity science discipline
Ibarra, J. E. (2012) · University of Twente Research Information · doi:10.3990/1.9780615660028
Sintomas de governança de TI ineficaz: um estudo em quatro institutos de ensino e pesquisa
de Albuquerque, A. E., & dos Santos, E. M. (2023) · International Journal of Scientific Management and Tourism · doi:10.55905/ijsmtv9n3-002
Tchuente, M., Kamdjoug, J. R. K., Douanla, J., & Tchankam, J. (2023) · Question(s) de management · doi:10.3917/qdm.225.0077
Jansen, S. (2013) · Edward Elgar Publishing eBooks · doi:10.4337/9781781955628.00006
Magalhães, R. (2004) · Edward Elgar Publishing eBooks · doi:10.4337/9781845420703.00016
Paradox Emergent from Information Sharing Across Food Supply Networks: An Empirical StudyPreprint
Alves, K. V., Maull, R., Pearson, S., Swainson, M., Brewer, S., & Hollands, T. Æ. (2023) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.4608674
Research on the Impact of Industrial Intelligence on Inclusive Green Growth
(2023) · International Journal of Social Sciences and Economic Management · doi:10.38007/ijssem.2023.040108
Psychological Aspects and Opinions about Some Typical Robots and Robots in General
Őrsi, B., & Csukonyi, C. (2023) · Recent Innovations in Mechatronics · doi:10.17667/riim.2023.03
Spatial inequalities in an era of modern reindustrialization
Capello, R., & Cerisola, S. (2024) · Edward Elgar Publishing eBooks · doi:10.4337/9781802202632.00006
Sustainability of Digital Transformation for the Environment
(2024) · Frontiers research topics · doi:10.3389/978-2-8325-4451-8
Antonio, S., & Corredoira, M. D. L. Á. Q. (2024) · Congreso de Ingeniería de Organización (CIO) · doi:10.31428/10317/12448
Business performance in IT. A multivariate regression analysis
Tofan, I., & Condreа, E. (2023) · Ovidius University Annals Economic Sciences Series · doi:10.61801/ouaess.2022.2.27
Innovazione e intelligenze artificiali. Istruzioni per l'uso
Pisano, P. (2023) · Editoriale Scientifica eBooks · doi:10.19245/25.05.bs.110
Digitalisierung im Kontext betrieblichen Gesundheitsmanagements und Prävention in der Pflege
Würfel, A. M., & Renoth, R. (2024) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-67914-2_1
Pirro, N. (2024) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.4845318
Gender Shaping the Impact of Digital Technologies on Firm-Level Exports: Analysis of Indian FirmsPreprint
Kumar, D., & Arora, K. (2024) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.4897547
Litschka, M., Saurwein, F., & Pellegrini, T. (2024) · Ethik in mediatisierten Welten · doi:10.1007/978-3-658-45495-1_1
Information Processing and Performance Research in Event-Driven Process Metodology (EPM) Notation
Mylnikov, L., & Saltykova, A. D. (2024) · Automatic Documentation and Mathematical Linguistics · doi:10.3103/s0005105524700304
Robotokkal szembeni elfogadás a szexizmus és a robot nemének vonatkozásában
Őrsi, B., Pósa-Kovács, L., & Csukonyi, C. (2025) · Magyar Pszichológiai Szemle · doi:10.1556/0016.2024.00105
Mismatched Clothes: Paradoxical Tensions with Online Gamified-fashion Platforms
Brander, K., & Penttinen, E. (2025) · Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS) · doi:10.24251/hicss.2025.489
Driving Innovation With Dynamic Capabilities and Technological Assets
Gomes, J., & Rom�ão, M. (2025) · IGI Global eBooks · doi:10.4018/979-8-3693-9266-9.ch007
Metadata
- Authors
- Brynjolfsson, E.
- Corresponding author
- Brynjolfsson, Erik
- ORCID
- Brynjolfsson, Erik
- Venue
- Communications of the ACM
- Published
- 1993-12
- Volume
- 36
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 66-77
- ISSN
- 0001-0782 (ISSN-L)
- 1557-7317
- OpenAlex
- W1978484347
- Semantic Scholar
- 2b9a95f6e1bc5dd2f1b17bcaafe11e28368aa4ca
- Cited by
- 2,604
- References
- 23
- Citations by year
- 2026: 148 · 2025: 85 · 2024: 72 · 2023: 77 · 2022: 68 · 2021: 70 · 2020: 82 · 2019: 77 · 2018: 79 · 2017: 84 · 2016: 85 · 2015: 104 · 2014: 112 · 2013: 100 · 2012: 129
- FWCI
- 79.59
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Communications of the ACM (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Economic Growth and Productivity
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Management Information Systems › Information Technology Governance and Strategy
- Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › ICT Impact and Policies
- Keywords
- information technology, productivity, productivity paradox, computational power, business computing, manufacturing industry, service, IT investment returns
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
A language model drew the claims from the paper on 2026-11-14, under version 3 of the claim definition (model deepseek-v4.1-flash, prompt extract-v3).
A second model labelled each claim on 2026-11-14 (model jev-1.13-20260917, definition revision gold-guideline-v0.2).
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
Data sources
Bibliographic data: Semantic Scholar, OpenAlex, Crossref.
Contains information from the Semantic Scholar Academic Graph Datasets, made available under the ODC Attribution License (ODC-BY 1.0).
Semantic Scholar’s data is described in: Kinney, R., et al. (2023). The Semantic Scholar Open Data Platform. arXiv:2301.10140.
