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Effects of innovation and markups on employment and labour share in OECD industries

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  • Ugur, Mehmet

Abstract

This paper takes issue with what I describe as a single focus on either innovation or market power as potential determinants of employment or labour share. Drawing on a constant elasticity of substitution (CES) production function and EU- KLEMS data on OECD industries, I demonstrate that the unifocal approach is not justified theoretically or empirically. I report that: (i) employment and labour share depends on both innovation and market power; (ii) market power's direct effects on both outcomes are always negative and large; (iii) innovation's direct effects are small and depend on the elasticity of substitution between capital and labour; and (iv) innovation and market power have substitute interactive effects that exacerbate the fall in employment or labour share. I conclude that the main driver of the decline in labour share and/or employment is not technological innovation as such but the level of rents that innovating firms are able to extract.

Suggested Citation

  • Ugur, Mehmet, 2024. "Effects of innovation and markups on employment and labour share in OECD industries," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 221-234.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:streco:v:71:y:2024:i:c:p:221-234
    DOI: 10.1016/j.strueco.2024.07.011
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