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Barriers to investment in ICT

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  • Matteo Bugamelli

    (Bank of Italy, Economic Research Department)

  • Patrizio Pagano

    (Bank of Italy, Economic Research Department)

Abstract

We investigate the diffusion of information and communication technologies (ICT) in Italian manufacturing using microdata. We find a positive correlation at firm level between ICT investment, human capital of the labor force and reorganization. Starting from row data, we build a measure of ICT capital stock, which includes hardware, software and communication equipment, showing a delay in ICT accumulation with respect to US manufacturing, in 1997, of about 8 years. We use this measure to estimate a production function. The elasticity of value added to ICT capital turns out to be close to 4 per cent, which implies an ICT marginal product much higher than its user cost. We argue that this can be explained by the presence of barriers to ICT investment such as the low level of human capital and the lack of reorganization of the firm.

Suggested Citation

  • Matteo Bugamelli & Patrizio Pagano, 2001. "Barriers to investment in ICT," Temi di discussione (Economic working papers) 420, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    • Handle: RePEc:bdi:wptemi:td_420_01
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    New economy; information and communication technologies; firm organization; human capital.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D24 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Production; Cost; Capital; Capital, Total Factor, and Multifactor Productivity; Capacity
    • L23 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Organization of Production
    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General

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