Biased Technical Change, Intermediate Goods and Total Factor Productivity

Biased technical change can be defined as changes that affect the elasticity of output with respect to inputs. In this paper, I analyze the effect of biased technical change on total factor productivity (TFP). I construct an input-output economy in which firms produce gross output using capital, labor and intermediate goods. In equilibrium, biased technical change appears as an explicit part of TFP in the value added aggregate production function, where the latter is obtained through the aggregation of individual firms optimal decisions. A larger elasticity of gross output with respect to intermediates implies a smaller TFP level. I use the model to quantify the impact of biased technical change for measured TFP growth in Italy. The exercise shows that biased technical change can account for the productivity slowdown observed in Italy from 1994 to 2004

The structural transformation between manufacturing and services and the deline in the U.S. GDP volatility

For a single firm with a given volatility of total factor productivity at the gross output level (GTFP), the volatility of total factor productivity at the value added level (YTFP) increases with the share of intermediate goods in gross output. For a Cobb-Douglas production function in capital, labor and intermediate goods, YTFP volatility is equal to GTFP volatility divided by one minus the share of intermediate goods in gross output. In the U.S., this share is steadily around 0.6 for manufacturing and 0.38 for services during the 1960-2005 period. Thus, the same level of GTFP volatility in the two sectors implies a 55% larger YTFP volatility in manufacturing. This fact contributes to the higher measured YTFP volatility in manufacturing with respect to services. It follows that, as the services share in GDP increases from 0.53 in 1960 to 0.71 in 2005 in the U.S., GDP volatility is reduced. I construct a two-sector dynamic general equilibrium input-output model to quantify the role of the structural transformation between manufacturing and services in reducing the U.S. GDP volatility. Numerical results for the calibrated model economy suggest that the structural transformation can account for 32% of the GDP volatility reduction between the 1960-1983 and the 1984-2005 periods.Volatility decline, Structural change, Real business cycle, Total factor productivity

MARKET AND POLICY ISSUES IN MICRO-ECONOMETRIC DEMAND MODELING

Micro-econometric demand modelling has been receiving an increasing attention in empirical research, mainly due to the increasing availability of micro-data. In this paper we provide a review of some relevant market and policy issues that can be analysed with the use of micro-data on demand. Problems arising from the treatment of micro-data are revised, mainly with reference to the standard neo-classical framework, although other approaches are also sketched. Finally, building on previous research, a dynamic model accounting for health issues, mainly obesity, is proposed for future research.Demand and Price Analysis, Health Economics and Policy, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,

Biased Technical Change, Intermediate Goods and Total Factor Productivity

Biased technical change can be defined as changes that affect the elasticity of output with respect to inputs. In this paper, I analyze the effect of biased technical change on total factor productivity (TFP). I construct an input-output economy in which firms produce gross output using capital, labor and intermediate goods. In equilibrium, biased technical change appears as an explicit part of TFP in the value added aggregate production function, where the latter is obtained through the aggregation of individual firms optimal decisions. A larger elasticity of gross output with respect to intermediates implies a smaller TFP level. I use the model to quantify the impact of biased technical change for measured TFP growth in Italy. The exercise shows that biased technical change can account for the productivity slowdown observed in Italy from 1994 to 2004.Total factor productivity growth, Intermediate goods, Productivity slowdown