Latest / The Productivity Podcast with Fexingo: Output, Efficiency, and Long-Term Economic Growth
How Bangladesh Garment Industry Defied the Productivity Trap
Bangladesh's ready-made garment industry is often described as a low-wage, low-productivity race to the bottom. But since 2010, the sector has nearly tripled its output per worker while keeping labor costs flat. How? This episode traces the story from the 2013 Rana Plaza disaster to the present: factory owners invested in lean manufacturing, automation of cutting and finishing, and worker upskilling programs. One key number: Bangladesh's garment GDP per worker rose from $2,500 to $6,800 in real terms by 2025. We look at the specific productivity innovations — from conveyor-belt…
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