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The Sensitivity of Capital Services Measurement: Measure all assets and the cost of capital

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  • Inklaar, Robert

    (Groningen University)

Abstract

The measurement of capital inputs is still a contentious issue: many choices have to be made that have potentially large effects on the resulting capital input series, some entailing differing assumptions about firm behaviour. This paper compares a large number of methodological choices and their impact on US capital services growth at the industry and aggregate level. The results show that measuring all assets, in particular intangible assets, and the choice for the rate of return matter substantially, while other choices are less important. I also argue that for pragmatic reasons, an external rate of return is preferable because it is a transparent and robust choice.

Suggested Citation

  • Inklaar, Robert, 2008. "The Sensitivity of Capital Services Measurement: Measure all assets and the cost of capital," GGDC Research Memorandum GD-103, Groningen Growth and Development Centre, University of Groningen.
    • Handle: RePEc:gro:rugggd:gd-103
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    Cited by:

    1. Ana Rincon-Aznar, 2009. "Rates of return and alternative measures of capital input: 14 countries and 10 branches, 1971-2005," National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) Discussion Papers 347, National Institute of Economic and Social Research.
    2. Batista, Alexandre Ricardo de Aragão, 2019. "Coeficientes De Capital E Trabalho No Setor De Serviços Para O Brasil Por Meio De Dados Em Painel [Labor And Capital Coefficients In Services Sector For Brazil Usind Data Panel]," MPRA Paper 97554, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 13 Dec 2019.
    3. Oulton, Nicholas & Wallis, Gavin, 2016. "Capital stocks and capital services: Integrated and consistent estimates for the United Kingdom, 1950–2013," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 117-125.
    4. Nicholas Oulton & Ana Rincon-Aznar, 2009. "Rates of Return and Alternative Measures of Capital Input: 14 Countries and 10 Branches, 1971-2005," CEP Discussion Papers dp0957, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    5. repec:old:wpaper:351 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. W. Erwin Diewert & Emily Yu, 2012. "New Estimates of Real Income and Multifactor Productivity Growth for the Canadian Business Sector, 1961-2011," International Productivity Monitor, Centre for the Study of Living Standards, vol. 24, pages 27-48, Fall.
    7. Matthew K. Heun & João Santos & Paul E. Brockway & Randall Pruim & Tiago Domingos & Marco Sakai, 2017. "From Theory to Econometrics to Energy Policy: Cautionary Tales for Policymaking Using Aggregate Production Functions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-44, February.
    8. Xi Chen & Tatiana Plotnikova, 2018. "The Measurement of Capital: Retrieving Initial Values from Panel Data," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 64(3), pages 542-562, September.
    9. Kevin J. Fox & Thomas Niebel & Mary O'Mahony & Marianne Saam, 2017. "The Contribution of Intangible Assets to Sectoral Productivity Growth in the EU," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 63, pages 49-67, February.
    10. Daniel Gallardo‐Albarrán & Robert Inklaar, 2021. "The Role Of Capital And Productivity In Accounting For Income Differences Since 1913," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(3), pages 952-974, July.
    11. Nicholas Oulton & Gavin Wallis, 2015. "Integrated Estimates of Capital Stocks and Services for the United Kingdom: 1950-2013," CEP Discussion Papers dp1342, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    12. Xi Wei & Xu Jun, 2015. "The Estimate of Capital Services by Sector in China," Journal of Systems Science and Information, De Gruyter, vol. 3(3), pages 214-233, June.
    13. repec:zbw:hohpro:351 is not listed on IDEAS
    14. Niebel, Thomas & Saam, Marianne, 2011. "Productivity of ICT and non-ICT capital: The role of rates of return and capital prices," ZEW Discussion Papers 11-083, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    15. Paul E. Brockway & Matthew K. Heun & João Santos & John R. Barrett, 2017. "Energy-Extended CES Aggregate Production: Current Aspects of Their Specification and Econometric Estimation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-23, February.
    16. Wen Chen, 2018. "Cross‐Country Income Differences Revisited: Accounting for the Role of Intangible Capital," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 64(3), pages 626-648, September.
    17. Jürgen Bitzer & Erkan Gören, 2016. "Measuring capital services by energy use: an empirical comparative study," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 48(53), pages 5152-5167, November.
    18. , & Diewert, Erwin, 2014. "The Treatment of Financial Transactions in the SNA: A User Cost Approach," Economics working papers erwin_diewert-2014-8, Vancouver School of Economics, revised 20 Feb 2014.
    19. Nicholas Oulton & Ana Rincón-Aznar, 2012. "Rates of Return and Alternative Measures of Capital Input: 14 Countries and Ten Branches, 1971–2005," Chapters, in: Matilde Mas & Robert Stehrer (ed.), Industrial Productivity in Europe, chapter 10, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    20. Thomas Niebel & Marianne Saam, 2016. "ICT and Growth: The Role of Rates of Return and Capital Prices," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 62(2), pages 283-310, June.
    21. Serena Fatica, 2017. "Measurement and Allocation of Capital Inputs With Taxes: A Sensitivity Analysis for OECD Countries," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 63(1), pages 1-29, March.
    22. Ilya B. Voskoboynikov, 2023. "Sources of productivity growth in Eastern Europe and Russia before the global financial crisis," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 59(3), pages 225-241, June.

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