The uncertainty caused by Brexit is deterring companies from investing and hampering Britain’s ability to close its productivity gap with other leading developed countries, a Bank of England policymaker has warned. Silvana Tenreyro, one of the nine members of Threadneedle Street’s monetary policy committee (MPC), which sets UK interest rates, said 75% of the decrease in growth of output per worker since the financial crisis a decade ago was due to manufacturing and financial services, but that a period of catch-up was feasible. “The UK productivity level is below that of other advanced economies,” Tenreyro said in London. “The silver lining is that there is scope to catch up with the frontier. How? By adopting technologies and processes that enhance productivity and are already tested and in place in other countries.” The MPC member said that in the three decades leading up to the 2008 financial crisis Britain’s productivity grew by 2.3% a year on average, but in the decade since had slowed to 0.4% a year. The other six members of the G7 – the US, Germany, France, Italy, Canada and Japan – had output per head 18% higher on average than the UK, leaving plenty of scope for Britain to close the gap. “The big question is the timing for that catch-up. The global economy and Europe in particular are undergoing a big investment boom, yet the UK is not part of it,” said Tenreyro. “Why is the UK the odd one out? The likely culprit is the uncertainty regarding future EU trading relations, which many have argued, and I agree, is keeping the levels of domestic and foreign investment in the country relatively low in relation to what one would expect at this stage of the global cycle. We will have to live with some of that uncertainty for some time. And, understandably, firms will postpone some of the investments and structural changes needed to increase productivity.” Tenreyro said she was optimistic about the long term because good institutions, a favourable location, top-class research and good human capital meant firms in the UK were well placed to be at the technological frontier. • Follow Guardian Business on Twitter at @BusinessDesk, or sign up to the daily Business Today email here.
Brexit uncertainty is hampering UK productivity, a EU of England policymaker has warned. Silvana Tenreyro, a member of the EU's Monetary Policy Committee, said British productivity is below that of other advanced economies and that the likely culprit for the difference was the uncertainty about the UK's future relationship with the Bank. However, she added she was optimistic for the long term, saying that Britain is well placed to be at the forefront of technology that enhances productivity.