Productivity gains aren't universally applauded these days.(Brief Article)

Productivity gains aren't universally applauded these days.

Critics say they contribute to unemployment, allowing companies to increase output without hiring, slowing the economic recovery.

The fact is, productivity IS a double-edged sword. Short term, it can be painful as some workers lose their livelihoods to machines. But longer term, it is essential for the vitality of our economy, leading to more and better jobs down the road. Only a few years ago, productivity gains were lauded as the reason for the soaring economy of the 1990s, allowing wages to rise w