Tools for Increasing Labor Productivity in Post-Soviet Countries: Experience of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus

The relevance of the study topic is due to the deepening integration of Russia and Belarus and the need to identify joint priorities and tools to assess the interaction of regions in industrial and technological development. The purpose of this study is to identify features and systematize tools for government incentives to increase labor productivity in Russia and Belarus. The main stages of the study are: comparison of methodological approaches of performance evaluation; comparative analysis of the level and dynamics of labor productivity in the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus; systematization of instruments of state stimulation of labor productivity in Russia and Belarus. It was found that labor productivity in the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus is significantly lower than in the G7 countries. The expediency of implementing vertical and horizontal industrial policy instruments to increase labor productivity in the regions of Russia and Belarus has been substantiated. The results of the study may be useful for federal and regional authorities in developing strategies for socioeconomic development, as well as programmes to increase labor productivity and support employment. Keywords—labor productivity, cross-country analysis, policy implications of increasing labour productivity, Russia, Belarus.