ABSTRACT
In a recent issue in this journal, Pinazo, Córdoba and Dinerstein (2017) raised a discussion about the forms of development of the automotive industry in Argentina. These authors portray an image of an automotive industry with globally standardized products and export-oriented dynamics, explained by high levels of labor productivity and low labor costs. In contrast, from our point of view, the development of capital accumulation in the Argentine automotive industry is limited by the size of the domestic market, small scale and low labor productivity, in relation to the normal conditions in the world market. This article engages in the discussion about the measurement and international comparison of labor productivity, with the purpose of elucidate which of these two visions fits the reality of the sector. To do this, we analyzed, complemented and expanded the evidence on labor productivity, to locate the Argentine automotive industry in a broader and more significant comparison with the current situation of global production.
KEYWORDS: Automotive industry; Labor productivity; International comparison; Foreign trade.