Walmart shows how not to solve the UK’s productivity crisis | Letters

Duncan Weldon (Stunted growth: the mystery of the UK's productivity crisis, 25 April) underestimates the importance of working conditions. As he mentions, productivity has been in decline since before the 2008 crash, and it is clear that there is a link between low productivity and poor working conditions. It is no surprise that in Britain the flexible labour market, or race to the bottom, with zero-hours contracts, enforced self-employment and poor or non-existent pension schemes has led to lower productivity.

According to the ONS, British workers produce up to 37% less per hour than French workers labouring under France's notoriously inflexible labour laws.