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Sequentiality Versus Simultaneity: Interrelated Factor Demand

Author

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  • Magne K. Asphjell

    (Norwegian School of Economics)

  • Wilko Letterie

    (Maastricht University)

  • Øivind A. Nilsen

    (Norwegian School of Economics)

  • Gerard A. Pfann

    (Maastricht University)

Abstract

Firms may adjust capital and labor sequentially or simultaneously. In this paper, we develop a structural model of interrelated factor demand subject to nonconvex adjustment costs and estimated by simulated method of moments. Based on Norwegian manufacturing industry plant-level data, parameter estimates reveal cost advantages for adjusting capital and making net changes in labor simultaneously. Factor demand models with fully specified interrelated adjustment costs structures perform best to describe the dynamic panel data.

Suggested Citation

  • Magne K. Asphjell & Wilko Letterie & Øivind A. Nilsen & Gerard A. Pfann, 2014. "Sequentiality Versus Simultaneity: Interrelated Factor Demand," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 96(5), pages 986-998, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpr:restat:v:96:y:2014:i:5:p:986-998
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    Cited by:

    1. Hirokazu Mizobata, 2014. "Differing factor adjustment costs across industries: Evidence from Japan," KIER Working Papers 885, Kyoto University, Institute of Economic Research.
    2. Domini, Giacomo & Grazzi, Marco & Moschella, Daniele & Treibich, Tania, 2021. "Threats and opportunities in the digital era: Automation spikes and employment dynamics," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(7).
    3. Marco Grazzi & Nadia Jacoby & Tania Treibich, 2013. "Dynamics of Investment and Firm Performance: Comparative Evidence from Manufacturing Industries," GREDEG Working Papers 2013-09, Groupe de REcherche en Droit, Economie, Gestion (GREDEG CNRS), Université Côte d'Azur, France.
    4. Amundsen, Alexander, 2023. "Interaction effects in the adjustment cost function of firms," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    5. Tiedtke, Julian, 2024. "Unveiling the Job-Creating and Destroying Effects of Automation through the Lense of Heterogeneity," VfS Annual Conference 2024 (Berlin): Upcoming Labor Market Challenges 302375, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    6. Rolf Golombek & Arvid Raknerud, 2012. "Exit dynamics of start-up firms. Does profit matter?," Discussion Papers 706, Statistics Norway, Research Department.
    7. Domini, Giacomo & Grazzi, Marco & Moschella, Daniele & Treibich, Tania, 2022. "For whom the bell tolls: The firm-level effects of automation on wage and gender inequality," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(7).
    8. Yang, Zhenbing & Shi, Qingquan & Shao, Shuai & Lu, Minwei & Yang, Lili, 2023. "Stricter energy regulations and water consumption: Firm-level evidence from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    9. Golombek, Rolf & Raknerud, Arvid, 2018. "Exit dynamics of start-up firms: Structural estimation using indirect inference," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 205(1), pages 204-225.
    10. Hirokazu Mizobata, 2015. "Hiring, investments, and financial distress: evidence from a Panel VAR analysis of Japanese firms," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 35(4), pages 2558-2566.
    11. Tang, Le, 2022. "The dynamic demand for capital and labor: Evidence from Chinese industrial firms," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    12. Yaman, F., 2011. "The costs of adjusting labor: Evidence from temporally disaggregated data," Working Papers 11/10, Department of Economics, City University London.
    13. Yaman, F., 2016. "Structural Estimation of Labor Adjustment Costs," Working Papers 15/22, Department of Economics, City University London.
    14. Enrico D'Elia & Alessandra Righi, 2017. "Firm's level labour intensity in Italy after the Great Recession," Working Papers 1, Department of the Treasury, Ministry of the Economy and of Finance.
    15. Addison, John T. & Portugal, Pedro & Varejão, José, 2014. "Labor demand research: Toward a better match between better theory and better data," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 4-11.
    16. Lapatinas Athanasios, 2012. "On the Interrelation of Capital and Labor Adjustment Costs at the Firm Level," Studies in Nonlinear Dynamics & Econometrics, De Gruyter, vol. 16(3), pages 1-36, September.
    17. Yu, Xiaodan & Dosi, Giovanni & Grazzi, Marco & Lei, Jiasu, 2017. "Inside the virtuous circle between productivity, profitability, investment and corporate growth: An anatomy of Chinese industrialization," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(5), pages 1020-1038.
    18. Mizobata, Hirokazu, 2016. "Differing factor adjustment costs across industries: Evidence from Japan," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 382-391.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    models; capital adjustment; labor adjustment; factor demand;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand

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