In recent years economists and others have debated whether investment in information technology is good or bad for employment growth. Table 2.3 contains information technology (IT) investment as a percentage of total investment for eight countries during the 1980s. It also contains the average annual percentage change in employment during the 1980s. Explain how these data shed light on the question of whether IT investment creates or costs jobs. 

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TABLE 2.3 Data on IT Investment Country Netherlands Italy Germany France Canada Japan Britain U.S. IT Investment as % of Total Investment (1980s) 2.0% 3.6 4.0 5.6 7.8 7.8 7.8 11.9 Annual Average % Change in Employment (1980-1989) 1.3% 1.9 1.7 1.5 2.4 2.4 3.0 3.4