Productivity growth seems like a scam?

Since I was a young kid, economists on tv seem to always say we need more productivity growth. As an adult, I learnt the basics critique: productivity has not increased wages since the 1970s, nor reduced working hours.

In some sectors, particularly white collar work, people are twice as productive as their parents in the same job. I saw a stat once saying that office based work was 80% more productive after the PC was introduced. But we obviously saw no benefit from that gain.

Now, we are hearing the same story with AI. Instead of regulating AI with basic safety laws, the Australian Productivity Commission says we need to leave it unregulated to boost productivity which will (magically) improve our lives. How? It won't boost wages or lower working hours.

My second point is on how productivity is measured. Economists go to great lengths to manipulate this. Instead of measuring productivity by generation (which is a great way to accurately represent the impact of technology), it's often presented by year.

This allows for a fake productivity "panic". "Productivity has only gone up 2% since apps came about last year" (circa 2012 commentary). Due to the lag effect of adopting tech, and huge changes between generations, yearly figures are extremely misleading.

My generation is twice as productive as our parents but we have less wealth, arguably longer working hours and lower wages (in real terms). Part of the problem seems to be misleading economic statements.