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Biased Technical Change and the Aggregate Production Function

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  • Thomas Michl

Abstract

This paper offers a classical model of biased technical change in the MarxRicardo tradition as a framework for theoretical and applied studies of growth. The observable data it generates would appear to an unsuspecting economist to be well-described by a neoclassical model with a static Cobb-Douglas production function, when in fact this production function describes only the technological history of the economy. The CobbDouglas form results from the capital-using, labour-saving bias of technical change. The model's trajectory in wage-profit space will lie along the displaced image of the neoclassical factor price frontier, in contradiction to marginal productivity theory. The Solow residual can be reinterpreted by the classical theory as a measure of the size of this displacement.

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  • Thomas Michl, 1999. "Biased Technical Change and the Aggregate Production Function," International Review of Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(2), pages 193-206.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:irapec:v:13:y:1999:i:2:p:193-206
    DOI: 10.1080/026921799101652
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    Cited by:

    1. Roberto Veneziani & Luca Zamparelli & Daniele Tavani & Luca Zamparelli, 2017. "Endogenous Technical Change In Alternative Theories Of Growth And Distribution," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(5), pages 1272-1303, December.
    2. Daniele Tavani, 2023. "The Classical Model of Growth and Distribution," Working Papers 2311, New School for Social Research, Department of Economics.
    3. Anwar Shaikh, 2005. "Nonlinear Dynamics and Pseudo-Production Functions," Eastern Economic Journal, Eastern Economic Association, vol. 31(3), pages 447-466, Summer.
    4. Thomas R. Michl, 2007. "Capitalists, Workers And Social Security," Metroeconomica, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 58(2), pages 244-268, May.
    5. Roberto Veneziani & Luca Zamparelli & Deepankar Basu, 2017. "Quantitative Empirical Research In Marxist Political Economy: A Selective Review," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(5), pages 1359-1386, December.
    6. Pi, Jiancai & Zhang, Pengqing, 2018. "Structural change and wage inequality," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 699-707.
    7. Foley, Duncan K., 2003. "Endogenous technical change with externalities in a classical growth model," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 52(2), pages 167-189, October.
    8. Thomas Michl, 2010. "Discounting Nordhaus," Review of Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(4), pages 535-549.
    9. Luca Zamparelli, 2011. "Induced Innovation, Endogenous Growth, and Income Distribution: a Model along Classical Lines," Working Papers CELEG 1102, Dipartimento di Economia e Finanza, LUISS Guido Carli.
    10. Tavani, Daniele & Zamparelli, Luca, 2021. "Labor-augmenting technical change and the wage share: New microeconomic foundations," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 27-34.
    11. Joao Paulo A. de Souza, 2014. "Real wages and labor-saving technical change: evidence from a panel of manufacturing industries in mature and labor-surplus economies," UMASS Amherst Economics Working Papers 2014-03, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Department of Economics.
    12. Lee, Chien-Chiang & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2008. "Energy consumption and economic growth in Asian economies: A more comprehensive analysis using panel data," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 30(1), pages 50-65, January.
    13. Ali Raza Cheema & Attiya Yasmin Javid, 2015. "The Relationship between Disaggregate Energy Consumption, Economic Growth and Environment for Asian Developing Economies," PIDE-Working Papers 2015:115, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics.
    14. Dumenil, Gerard & Levy, Dominique, 2003. "Technology and distribution: historical trajectories a la Marx," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 52(2), pages 201-233, October.
    15. zamparelli, luca, 2008. "Direction and intensity of technical change: a micro-founded growth model," MPRA Paper 10843, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    16. Luca Zamparelli, 2009. "Direction and Intensity of Technical Change: a Micro Model," Working Papers 4, Doctoral School of Economics, Sapienza University of Rome.
    17. Daniele Tavani, 2013. "Bargaining over productivity and wages when technical change is induced: implications for growth, distribution, and employment," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 109(3), pages 207-244, July.
    18. Fabrizio Ferretti, 2008. "Patterns of technical change: a geometrical analysis using the wage-profit rate schedule," International Review of Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(5), pages 565-583.
    19. Joao Paulo A. de Souza, 2017. "Real wages and labor-saving technical change: evidence from a panel of manufacturing industries in mature and labor-surplus economies," International Review of Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(2), pages 151-172, March.
    20. Ekaterina Ponomareva & Alexandra Bozhechkova & Alexandr Knobel, 2012. "Factors of Economic Growth," Published Papers 172, Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy, revised 2013.
    21. Luiza Nassif Pires, 2020. "Notes on Intersectional Political Economy: The Long Period Method, Technical Change, and Gender," Economics Working Paper Archive wp_957, Levy Economics Institute.
    22. Deepankar Basu, 2010. "Marx‐Biased Technical Change And The Neoclassical View Of Income Distribution," Metroeconomica, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 61(4), pages 593-620, November.
    23. A. J. Julius, 2005. "Steady‐State Growth And Distribution With An Endogenous Direction Of Technical Change," Metroeconomica, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 56(1), pages 101-125, February.

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