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Why Will Technical Change Not Be Permanently Skill-Biased?

Author

Listed:
  • Patricia Crifo-Tillet

    (Universite Catholique de Louvain)

  • Etienne Lehmann

    (Universite Paris-II)

Abstract

We contribute to the debate on skill-biased technical change by studying the long-run dynamics of skill premia in an endogenous growth model in which technical change can be directed alternately towards different factors. We show that R&D resources tend to be directed alternately towards skill-intensive and unskilled-intensive goods, creating cycles in skill premia. If resources were constantly directed towards the same sector, an innovation in a different sector would not be threatened by future innovators. Hence, researchers are incited to switch from one sector to another, in order to avoid the negative effect of innovations constantly occuring in the same sector. (Copyright: Elsevier)

Suggested Citation

  • Patricia Crifo-Tillet & Etienne Lehmann, 2004. "Why Will Technical Change Not Be Permanently Skill-Biased?," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 7(1), pages 157-180, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:red:issued:v:7:y:2004:i:1:p:157-180
    DOI: 10.1016/S1094-2025(03)00053-X
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Linnea Polgreen & Pedro Silos, 2008. "Capital-Skill Complementarity and Inequality: A Sensitivity Analysis," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 11(2), pages 302-313, April.
    2. Castex, Gonzalo & (Stanley) Cho, Sang-Wook & Dechter, Evgenia, 2022. "The decline in capital-skill complementarity," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    3. Crifo, Patricia, 2008. "Skill supply and biased technical change," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 15(5), pages 812-830, October.
    4. Vania Ivanova, 2013. "Opportunities for the Green Economy in Bulgaria," Economic Alternatives, University of National and World Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria, issue 4, pages 35-44, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Innovation-Driven Growth; Wage Inequality; Skill-Biased Technical Change; Cycles.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O41 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models

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