Hydropower-Led Economic Growth in Bhutan: Development of Industry-Level Productivity Account, 1990–2022

This book provides a comprehensive analysis of Bhutan’s economic growth and productivity dynamics from 1990 to 2022, with a special focus on hydropower development. Through the construction of detailed industry-level productivity accounts, the study addresses significant data gaps in Bhutan’s national accounts, measuring outputs and inputs across various sectors and developing quality-adjusted labor and capital input series. The analysis reveals the complexities of Bhutan’s hydropower-led growth strategy: while the sector has driven substantial economic growth, its contribution to overall productivity improvement has been limited. The electricity sector shows gains in labor productivity but declining capital productivity, resulting in stagnant Total Factor Productivity (TFP). The study also examines productivity trends in non-electricity sectors and addresses potential “Dutch disease” effects on manufacturing and agricultural competitiveness. International comparisons place Bhutan’s productivity performance in a regional context, revealing significant gaps in productivity performance, particularly when compared to India, Bhutan’s largest trading partner and a regional economic benchmark. This comparative analysis informs policy recommendations for achieving more balanced and sustainable economic growth. The findings are particularly relevant for Bhutan’s Thirteenth Five-Year Plan (2024–2029), which emphasizes productivity improvements across all economic sectors. The book serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, economists, and researchers interested in development economics, particularly those focused on the unique challenges faced by small, landlocked nations pursuing sustainable economic development.

Koji Nomura is a Professor and Director at the Keio Economic Observatory, Keio University, Tokyo. Nomura received a BA in 1993, an MA in 1995, and a Ph.D. in 2005 from Keio University. He has previously served as an assistant professor (1996–2003) and associate professor (2003–2017) at Keio University; a CBG fellow at the JFK School of Government, Harvard University (2003–2005); an economist at the OECD (2006–2007); a faculty fellow at the Research Institute of Economy, Trade, and Industry (2013–2019); a consultant for the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (2015–2016); and chief research officer at The 21st Century Public Policy Institute, Keidanren (2019–2020). He is currently a visiting fellow at the Economic Social Research Institute, Cabinet Office, Government of Japan (2005–2008 and 2012–present); a project manager for the APO Productivity Database at the Asian Productivity Organization (2007–present); a visiting senior fellow at the Research Institute of Capital Formation, Development Bank of Japan (2009–present); and a consultant for the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (2024–present).

His research focuses on economic measurement, productivity analysis, and energy economics. He is the author of Measurement of Capital and Productivity in Japan (in Japanese, Keio University Press, 2004), APO Productivity Databook (Asian Productivity Organization, annual publication from 2008 to 2024), Energy Productivity in Japan’s Economic Growth: Exploring Possibilities for Balancing Economy and Environment (in Japanese, Keio University Press, 2021), and Energy Productivity and Economic Growth: Experiences of the Japanese Industries, 1955–2019 (Springer, 2023).