Rapidly growing economies in a region face the risk of stalling once they reach a certain income level, a pattern sometimes called the 'middle-income trap'. This means income growth, which had been rapid, slows sharply and stays well below levels seen in advanced economies. Analysts have identified several contributing causes, from weak institutions to unfavourable macroeconomic conditions, but the single broadest cause cited is a collapse in the growth of productivity.

Which among the following is the most logical, rational and critical inference that can be made from the above passage?