No. the amount each person produces does not increase, certainly not because scientific advance.<p>You see per capita productivity increase, where &quot;productivity&quot; not necesarily means &quot;producing more&quot;. If you can cut your production in one third and get away with doubling your prices (inelastic market), that couonts as productivity increase: you are producing more Profits with the same Capital investment. If on top of that you go and lay off 40% of your work force, you get the per capita part as well: You are running the same Productive Assets with less Labour.<p>That last is always a goal of Management, because of (19th century) reasons.