Benefiting from the next production revolution

The production of goods and services has been transformed in many ways over recent years. First, production increasingly takes place across borders, in global value chains (GVCs). Second, production is increasingly knowledge-based and involves a mix of goods and services, a phenomenon also known as the “servitisation of manufacturing”. Third and closely related, a growing part of production, in particular in the services sector, is affected by digitalisation and can sometimes be delivered through digital means. Finally, a new wave of technological change is now fundamentally altering the nature of production, heralding what has been referred to as a next production revolution. Ensuring that these transformations support overall growth and well-being requires sound policies in many areas and is a current focus of OECD work.