I have read a lot of history about chemical process industries, energy, and allied sectors. I'm trying to compare inputs and outputs of processes without invoki

I have read a lot of history about chemical process industries, energy, and allied sectors. I'm trying to compare inputs and outputs of processes without invoking dollars: number of laborers, tons of sulfuric acid, megawatt hours of electricity... My impression is that many commoditized products continue to see decent year-over-year improvements in the ratio of inputs to outputs. But if economists don't care about material input:output ratios, only currency-values, then improvements-plus-fierce-competition could look like stagnant productivity. You would need process improvements plus GDP growth to recognize productivity gains; flat GDP per capita and simultaneous shrinking inputs of matter and energy wouldn't count.