Bart van Ark
Bart van Ark
Managing Director, The Productivity Institute
The University of Manchester
Bart van Ark is a Senior Advisor of the Economy, Strategy and Finance (ESF) Center at The Conference Board. From 2008 until September 2020 he was Chief Economist and Head of the ESF Center, where he oversaw the production of widely watched economic indicators and growth forecasts around the globe.
Currently van Ark is a Professor of Productivity Studies at the Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS) at the University of Manchester. He is also Managing Director and Principal Investigator of The Productivity Institute, a UK-wide organisation which aims to lay the foundations for an era of sustained and inclusive productivity growth by bringing together academic research, policy studies and business engagement.
Bart has published extensively in leading national and international journals, including the Journal of Economic Perspectives, The Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, and Economic Policy. From 2004–2008 he was managing editor of the Review of Income and Wealth.
He has also been widely featured in major international business media, including Bloomberg, CNBC, Fox Business, the Financial Times, and The Wall Street Journal.
Publications by Bart van Ark
Reports
- Productivity Through People: New Opportunities for CHROs 01 July, 2024
- How Businesses Can Leverage Productivity to Generate Strategic Alignment Behind a Common Language and Drive Performance 24 November, 2022
- Productivity and the Pandemic: Short-Term Disruptions and Long-Term Implications 15 September, 2021
- How to not miss a productivity revival once again? 18 December, 2020
- StraightTalk® Global Economic Outlook 2020: Getting through and beyond the COVID-19 Recession 29 July, 2020
- C-Suite Challenge™ 2020: Data Privacy and Cybersecurity—Mitigating Risk, Seizing Opportunity 10 June, 2020
- CEOs in Europe: Business Conditions, the COVID-19 Crisis, and Beyond 19 May, 2020
- Global Consumer Confidence Report: Q1 2020 16 April, 2020
- C-Suite Challenge™ 2020: Japan Edition 14 April, 2020
- C-Suite Challenge™ 2020: Collaborating to Compete 12 March, 2020
- C-Suite Challenge™ 2020: Risk, Opportunities, and Hot-Button Issues/Chartbook 12 February, 2020
- Global Consumer Confidence Report: Q4 2019 16 January, 2020
- C-Suite Challenge™ 2020: Risks, Opportunities, and Hot-Button Issues 06 January, 2020
- Prioritizing Productivity in the Gulf Region: A Path toward Sustained Growth through Smart Diversification 02 December, 2019
- Global Economic Outlook 2020: Gulf Region—Stagnating Growth Clouds the Gulf Region's Outlook 26 November, 2019
- Global Economic Outlook 2020: Stagnating Growth amid an Uncertain Outlook 18 November, 2019
- StraightTalk®Global Economic Outlook 2020: Stagnating Growth and Stalling Globalization: What's Ahead? 10 October, 2019
- StraightTalk® Global Economic Outlook 2019: The Long-Term Slowdown Is Upon Us—How Should Business Respond Now? 01 May, 2019
- C-Suite Challenge™ 2019: The Future-Ready Organization: Latin America 26 April, 2019
- C-Suite Challenge™ 2019: The Future-Ready Organization: Japan 28 January, 2019
- C-Suite Challenge™ 2019: The Future-Ready Organization 16 January, 2019
- StraightTalk® Global Economic Outlook 2019: On Top of the World…Looking Over the Edge 12 November, 2018
- StraightTalk® Global Economic Outlook 2018: Will Trade Barriers Derail the Global Economy? 11 July, 2018
- C-Suite Challenge™ 2018: ASEAN/China Edition 05 April, 2018
- StraightTalk® Global Economic Outlook 2018: Back to the Old Normal? 07 March, 2018
- C-Suite Challenge™ 2018: Reinventing the Organization for the Digital Age 18 January, 2018
- C-Suite Challenge™ 2018: Reinventing the Organization for the Digital Age (Expanded Report) 18 January, 2018
- Global Economic Outlook 2018: Global Economy: Half Empty or Half Full? 13 November, 2017
- StraightTalk® Global Economic Outlook 2017: How Much Will Stronger Global Growth Benefit a Recovery in Trade? 20 September, 2017
- StraightTalk® Global Economic Outlook 2017: Can the Recent Upswing Put Global Growth Back on Track? 08 June, 2017
- Signposts of Innovation: A Review of Innovation Metrics 03 May, 2017
- Signposts of Innovation: Toward Better Innovation Metrics for Business—A Primer 03 May, 2017
- StraightTalk® Global Economic Outlook 2017: Uncertainty and Global Growth Make Strange Bedfellows 28 February, 2017
- CEO Challenge 2017: Leading through Risk, Disruption, and Transformation 26 January, 2017
- CEO Challenge 2017: Meeting the Customer Relationships/Corporate Brand and Reputation Challenge 26 January, 2017
- CEO Challenge 2017: Meeting the Human Capital Challenge 26 January, 2017
- CEO Challenge 2017: Meeting the Innovation and Digitization Challenge 26 January, 2017
- CEO Challenge 2017: Meeting the Operational Excellence Challenge 26 January, 2017
- CEO Challenge 2017: Meeting the Regulation and Risk Challenge 26 January, 2017
- CEO Challenge 2017: Meeting the Sustainability Challenge 26 January, 2017
- The New Administration's Lean towards Quantitative over Qualitative Sources of Growth Will Leave the Bottom Line Unchanged—at Least for Now 15 November, 2016
- StraightTalk® Global Economic Outlook 2017: Bucking the Trend—Overcoming Uncertainty, Shocks, and Disruption with Qualitative Growth 14 November, 2016
- StraightTalk® Global Economic Outlook 2016: Will Greater Uncertainty Lead to Business Investment Paralysis? 13 September, 2016
- The Brexit Effect: Unpacking the Impact of Uncertainty on the Economy 02 August, 2016
- The Conference Board CEO Challenge® 2016: Asia Regional Report 02 July, 2016
- StraightTalk® Global Economic Outlook 2016: Quality over Quantity: How Business Can Generate Sustainable Growth in a Slow Global Economy 26 May, 2016
- Navigating the New Digital Economy: Driving Digital Growth and Productivity from Installation to Deployment 14 May, 2016
- Navigating the Digital Economy: Capturing the Benefits from Increased Flexibility and Cost Reductions – CFO Implications 14 May, 2016
- Navigating the Digital Economy: Managing Demand and Supply for Digital Jobs and Developing a Tech-Savvy Workforce – CHRO Implications 14 May, 2016
- Navigating the Digital Economy: Driving Digital Growth and Productivity from Installation to Deployment – CEO and CSO Implications 14 May, 2016
- StraightTalk® Global Economic Outlook 2016: Bad, Worse, or as Good as It Gets? 17 February, 2016
- The Conference Board CEO Challenge® 2016: Building Capability – Seeking Alignment, Agility, and Talent to Innovate and Grow 13 January, 2016
- The Conference Board CEO Challenge® 2016: General Counsel Strategic Implications 13 January, 2016
- The Conference Board CEO Challenge® 2016: CHRO/CLO/CTO Strategic Implications 13 January, 2016
- The Conference Board CEO Challenge® 2016: CFO Strategic Implications 13 January, 2016
- The Conference Board CEO Challenge® 2016: CEO Strategic Implications 13 January, 2016
- StraightTalk® Global Economic Outlook 2016: Escaping the Global Economy's Holding Pattern 10 November, 2015
- StraightTalk® Global Economic Outlook 2016: Escaping the Global Economy's Holding Pattern 06 November, 2015
- Global Economic Outlook 2016: The Global Economy in a Holding Pattern 05 November, 2015
- Global Economic Outlook 2016: Anticipating Labor Market Tightness at Times of Slow Global Growth (CHRO Strategic Implications) 05 November, 2015
- Global Economic Outlook 2016: How to Support Profits in a Slow Global Economy (CFO Strategic Implications) 05 November, 2015
- Getting a Handle on Energy in Europe (Implications for the European Union) 18 September, 2015
- The Conference Board CEO Challenge® 2015: Gulf Cooperation Council Edition 27 July, 2015
- The Conference Board CEO Challenge® 2015: Europe Edition 27 July, 2015
- Prioritizing Productivity to Drive Growth Competitiveness and Profitability, Concepts & Definitions 17 June, 2015
- Enhancing Labor’s Contribution to Productivity: Prioritizing Productivity to Drive Growth, Competitiveness, and Profitability (CHRO Summary) 15 June, 2015
- The Profit Equation: Prioritizing Productivity to Drive Growth, Competitiveness, and Profitability (CFO Summary) 15 June, 2015
- Prioritizing Productivity to Drive Growth, Competitiveness, and Profitability 15 June, 2015
- The Conference Board CEO Challenge® 2015: Australia Edition 04 May, 2015
- The Conference Board CEO Challenge® 2015: Latin America Edition 14 April, 2015
- Getting a Handle on Energy: Global Growth Scenarios in Times of Changing Oil Prices 14 April, 2015
- The Conference Board Global Economic Outlook 2015 and CEO Challenge® 2015: Implications for General Counsel 26 March, 2015
- The Conference Board CEO Challenge® 2015: Hong Kong Edition 18 March, 2015
- The Conference Board CEO Challenge® 2015: ASEAN Edition 17 March, 2015
- How Will the Global Economy Cope withSlowing Workforce Growth: Implications for the CHRO 02 February, 2015
- The Conference Board CEO Challenge® 2015: US Edition 15 January, 2015
- The Conference Board CEO Challenge® 2015: Creating Opportunity out of Adversity—Building Innovative, People-Driven Organizations 07 January, 2015
- The Conference Board CEO Challenge® 2015: India Edition 07 January, 2015
- The Conference Board CEO Challenge® 2015: Creating Opportunity out of Adversity—Building Innovative, People-Driven Organizations (CHRO) 07 January, 2015
- StraightTalk® Global Economic Outlook 2015: Are We Asleep at the Wheel? 23 November, 2014
- Global Economic Outlook 2015: Finding Opportunities in a Global Slowdown: GLOBAL OVERVIEW 12 November, 2014
- StraightTalk® Global Economic Outlook 2015: Are We Asleep at the Wheel? 11 November, 2014
- Global Economic Growth Scenarios 2020: The Impact of Investments and Reforms across Seven Major Regions 11 June, 2014
- Productivity and Digitalisation in Europe: Paving the Road to Faster Growth 21 May, 2014
- The Conference Board CEO Challenge® 2014: Latin America Edition 30 April, 2014
- The Conference Board CEO Challenge® 2014: ASEAN Edition 22 April, 2014
- CEO Challenges in the Gulf Region 31 March, 2014
- The Conference Board CEO Challenge® 2014: People and Performance 08 January, 2014
- Avoiding the Digital Desert 19 November, 2013
- StraightTalk® Special Issue for All Members:Global Economic Outlook 2014 11 November, 2013
- StraightTalkreg; Global Economic Outlook 2014: Time to realize the opportunities for growth 10 November, 2013
- Introducing the Global Debt and Growth Series 07 August, 2013
- The Conference Board CEO Challenge® 2013: India Edition 25 July, 2013
- The Conference Board CEO Challenge® 2013: ASEAN Edition 16 July, 2013
- The Conference Board CEO Challenge® 2013: Countering the Global Slowdown 09 July, 2013
- Recent Changes in Europe’s Competitive Landscape and Medium-Term Perspectives: How the Sources of Demand and Supply Are Shaping Up 06 May, 2013
- China Center Quick Note: Barring the unexpected, China’s economy to downshift considerably, as a natural consequence of both size and maturation 21 February, 2013
- Will the Decline in Unit Labor Cost in Europe's Troubled Economies Help Improve Competitiveness? 31 January, 2013
- Projecting Global Growth 13 November, 2012
- StraightTalk® Special Issue for All Members: Global Economic Outlook 2013 12 November, 2012
- Are we there yet? 08 October, 2012
- Despite the Chaos, Europe's Economies Are Regaining Competitiveness through Improvements in Unit Labor Cost Performance 27 July, 2012
- The Conference Board Economics Watch® - European View 27 June, 2012
- How will mature economies remain competitive globally? 14 June, 2012
- The Conference Board CEO Challenge® 2012: Risky Business—Focusing on Innovation and Talent in a Volatile World 20 March, 2012
- The Conference Board Economics Watch® - European View 18 February, 2012
- Is Income Inequality Slowing Down Growth? 14 December, 2011
- Projecting Economic Growth with Growth Accounting Techniques: The Conference Board Global Economic Outlook 2012 Sources and Methods 15 November, 2011
- Is slow growth too slow? 07 November, 2011
- Straight Talk Special Issue 06 November, 2011
- Will Innovation Drive the Economy Toward Faster Growth? 15 June, 2011
- Performance 2011: Productivity, Employment, and Growth in the World's Economies 07 June, 2011
- Economic Leadership and Global Responsibilities 19 December, 2010
- Escaping the Sovereign-Debt Crisis: Productivity-Driven Growth and Moderate Spending May Offer a Way Out 14 December, 2010
- The Conference Board Global Economic Outlook 2011 23 November, 2010
- Do Exchange Rates Still Matter? 28 October, 2010
- A Strategy for an Escape from the Debt Crisis 29 September, 2010
- How Unique Is the Current Era? 30 July, 2010
- The Changing Competitive Environment of the World Economy 29 June, 2010
- Toward the Next Phase in the Expansion 20 May, 2010
- Where will the U.S. saving rate go? 30 March, 2010
- Productivity Divergence May Lead to Different Rates of Recovery 25 February, 2010
- The 2010 Productivity Brief: Productivity, Employment, and Growth in the World's Economies 13 January, 2010
- Will We Get It Right Next Time? 17 December, 2009
- Introducing The Conference Board Global Economic Outlook 29 November, 2009
- Taking a Look at Employment and Productivity 30 October, 2009
- Despite Optimism, Economies Are Still Looking for Stronger Fundamentals 20 August, 2009
- Productivity, Performance, and Progress: Germany in International Comparative Perspective 12 August, 2009
- Slow Growth in the Consumer Sector Is Holding Back Overall Recovery 29 June, 2009
- Viewing the Present through the Historical Perspective of Growth and Business Cycles 28 May, 2009
- Innovation and US Competitiveness: Reevaluating the Contributors to Growth 07 May, 2009
- Short-Run Recovery and Long-Term Growth Agendas 29 April, 2009
- The Global Economy and Inflation 29 March, 2009
- Productivity and Innovation in a Time of Crisis 29 January, 2009
- 2009 Outlook for the United States, Euro Area, and China 17 December, 2008
- How Will the Financial Crisis Hit Main Street? 23 October, 2008
- Taking Stock of the Current Economic Environment 28 September, 2008
- Defining a Sustainable Global Growth Model 29 July, 2008
- Growing Beyond Oil: Productivity, Performance and Progress in the Countries of the Gulf Cooperation 10 June, 2008
- Performance 2008: Productivity, Employment, and Growth in the World's Economies 06 March, 2008
- Intangible Assets in France and Germany 28 February, 2008
- Is ICT's Contribution to Productivity Growth Peaking? 23 January, 2007
- Competitive Advantage of "Low-Wage" Countries Often Exaggerated 02 October, 2006
- As U.S. Productivity Slows, Emerging Economies Grow Rapidly, but Europe Falls Fu 06 January, 2006
- Europe's Productivity Gap in an International Comparative Perspective Catching Up or Getting Stuck? 28 November, 2005
- Performance 2005: Productivity, Employment and Income in the World’s Economies 06 June, 2005
- Performance 2005: Productivity, Employment and Income in the World’s Economies 09 May, 2005
- The Retail Revolution - Can Europe Match U.S. Productivity Performance? 29 March, 2005
- The Retail Revolution - Can Europe Match U.S. Productivity Performance? 04 March, 2005
- EU Labor Productivity and Employment Improve in 2004?but U.S. Still Leads 19 January, 2005
- Performance 2004 20 May, 2004
- New Member States Will Raise Productivity Growth of Enlarged European Union?but 11 February, 2004
- Performance 2002: Productivity, Employment, and Income in the World’s Economies 18 March, 2003
- Productivity and Global Competitiveness... Despite Cyclical Downturn, Structural Trends in Productiv 23 January, 2003
- Europe Vs. The United States: Which Industries are Leading the Productivity Race? 28 June, 2002
- Making the Most of the Information Age: Productivity and Structural Reform in the New Economy 02 October, 2001
- Performance 2000: Productivity, Employment, and Income in the World's Economies 12 March, 2001
- Are Poor Nations Closing the Gap in Living Standards?: Perspectives on a Global Economy 13 January, 2000
- Perspectives on a Global Economy 01 January, 2000
- The Euro-What Impact Will It Have on European Labor Markets: Perspectives on a Global Economy 18 February, 1999
- Asia After the Crisis—Challenges for a Return to Rapid Growth: Perspectives on a Global Economy 14 July, 1998
- Technology, Productivity and Growth: U.S. and German Issues: Perspectives on a Global Economy 01 December, 1997
Articles
- The Conference Board® Global Consumer Confidence Survey Q2 2020: Gulf Region 31 August, 2020
- Global Consumer Confidence Report: Q2 2020 15 July, 2020
- Productivity, Performance, and Progress: Germany in International Comparative Perspective 12 August, 2009
- Innovation and US Competitiveness: Reevaluating the Contributors to Growth 07 May, 2009
Charts
- Input Prices Stable Thanks to Weak Demand 02 August, 2013
Databases
- CEO Challenge 2017: Leading through Risk, Disruption, and Transformation (Dataset) 26 January, 2017
- The Conference Board CEO Challenge® 2016: Building Capability – Seeking Alignment, Agility, and Talent to Innovate and Grow (Dataset) 13 January, 2016
External Publications
- Bart van Ark, Janet X. Hao, Carol Corrado & Charles Hulten (2009), "Measuring intangible capital and its contribution to economic growth in Europe" , EIB Papers, European Investment Bank, Vol. 14, No.1, pp. 62-99.
- Bart van Ark (2010), "Productivity, Sources of Growth and Potential Output in the Euro Area and the United States" , Intereconomics 2010/1, pp. 17-20.
- Vivian Chen, Abhay Gupta, Andre Therrien, Gad Levanon and Bart van Ark (2010), "Recent Productivity Developments in the World Economy: An Overview from The Conference Board Total Economy Database," International Productivity Monitor, Spring, pp. 3-19.
- Bart van Ark, Adbul Azeez Erumban, Vivian Chen and Utsav Kumar (2010), "The Cost Competitiveness of Manufacturing in China and India: An Industry and Regional Perspective" , in Barry Eichengreen, Poonam Gupta and Rajiv Kumar, eds., Emerging Giants. China and India in the World Economy, Oxford University Press, pp. 87-124