Production Technology Estimates and Balanced Growth1. (11th October 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: León‐Ledesma, Miguel A.; McAdam, Peter; Willman, Alpo
• Is Part Of: Oxford bulletin of economics and statistics. Volume 77:Number 1(2015:Feb.)
• Page Start: 40
• Page End: 65
• Publication Date: 2013-10-11
• Subjects: Economic history -- Periodicals; Great Britain -- Economic conditions -- Periodicals; 330.9
• DOI: 10.1111/obes.12049
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0305-9049

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="obes12049-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Capital‐labour substitution and total factor productivity (TFP) estimates are essential features of many economic models. Such models typically embody a balanced growth path. This often leads researchers to estimate models imposing stringent prior choices on technical change. We demonstrate that estimation of the substitution elasticity and TFP growth can be substantially biased if technical progress is thereby mis‐specified. We obtain analytical and simulation results in the context of a model consistent with balanced and near‐balanced growth (i.e. departures from balanced growth but broadly stable factor shares). Given this evidence, a constant elasticity of substitution production function system is then estimated for the US economy. Results show that the estimated substitution elasticity tends to be significantly lower using a factor‐augmenting specification (well below one). We are also able to reject conventional neutrality forms in favour of general factor augmentation with a non‐negligible capital‐augmenting component. Our work thus provides insights into production and supply‐side estimation in balanced‐growth frameworks.</p> </abstract>