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The Substitution Elasticity, Factor Shares, and the Low-Frequency Panel Model

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  • Robert S. Chirinko
  • Debdulal Mallick

Abstract

The value of the elasticity of substitution between labor and capital (σ) is a crucial assumption in understanding the secular decline in the labor share of income. This paper develops and implements a new strategy for estimating this crucial parameter by combining a low-pass filter with panel data to identify the low-frequency/long-run relations appropriate to production function estimation. Standard estimation methods, which do not filter out transitory variation, generate downwardly biased estimates of 40 percent to 70 percent relative to the benchmark value. Despite correcting for this bias, our preferred estimate of 0.40 is substantially below the Cobb-Douglas assumption of σ = 1.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert S. Chirinko & Debdulal Mallick, 2017. "The Substitution Elasticity, Factor Shares, and the Low-Frequency Panel Model," American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 9(4), pages 225-253, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aejmac:v:9:y:2017:i:4:p:225-53
    Note: DOI: 10.1257/mac.20140302
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C51 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Model Construction and Estimation
    • E22 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Investment; Capital; Intangible Capital; Capacity
    • E24 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution; Aggregate Human Capital; Aggregate Labor Productivity
    • E25 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Aggregate Factor Income Distribution
    • O41 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models

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