This report from Oxford Economics and AT&T shows ICT investment and productivity growth are closely linked - and European countries are lagging behind other parts of the world in both areas.

?

European GDP could grow by an additional ?760bn (or an extra 5%) above forecasts if Europe matched total US ICT levels by 2020. This would be worth around ?1,500 per person at today's prices. ICT-driven innovation would contribute approximately one-third of that growth - 1.5% of GDP or around ?220bn.

?

Other key findings of the report include:

• As a percentage of GDP, Europe's stock of ICT capital has fallen to around two-thirds of the level in the US, the world leader, having been close to parity in 1991;

?

• This ICT investment gap has affected Europe's productivity growth significantly, which has averaged only half the US rate since 2000;

?

• Investment in ICT generates a bigger return to productivity growth than most other forms of capital investment. This so-called ""ICT dividend"" is estimated to contribute around one-third of the overall 20-25% returns on ICT investment;

?

• The European productivity leaders are Scandinavia and the UK. Over the past 15 years, they have seen average labour productivity growth of between 1.7% and 2% a year.

?

?

Oxford Economics is one of the world's foremost global forecasting and research consultancies.