This paper develops an index of energy productivity and employs it to examine productivity movements across 62 Australian manufacturing industries for the period 1950–1968. Data were not available to permit extension of the analysis beyond 1968.
In the empirical part of the paper, the first task is to identify industries which are major energy users. Secondly, the best and worst performers, relative to the average, in terms of energy productivity gain are identified. A line of enquiry into energy productivity is then pursued analogous to that developed by Salter's work on labour productivity and technical change.
