Editors’ Summary of the Brookings Papers on Economic Activity – 2003 No 2

George L. Perry and

George L. Perry Senior Fellow Emeritus - Economic Studies

William C. Brainard

WCB

William C. Brainard

THE BROOKINGS PANEL ON Economic Activity held its seventysixth
conference in Washington, D.C., on September 4 and 5, 2003. This
issue of Brookings Papers on Economic Activity includes the papers and
discussions presented at the conference. The first paper examines the
Mexican economy since Mexico liberalized its financial markets and concludes
that its disappointing performance is due, in important part, to
inadequate domestic reforms. The second paper takes a fresh look at
understanding the factors behind economic growth over the past forty
years, using the experience of eighty-four countries at various stages of
development. The third paper looks at how the U.S. productivity surge
since the mid-1990s affects our understanding of productivity trends and
cycles, and how this might inform future projections. The fourth paper
looks for evidence of a bubble in current housing prices.