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Identifying Externalities in UK Manufacturing Using Direct Estimation of an Average Cost Function

Author

Listed:
  • Ciaran Driver

    (Tanaka Business School, Imperial College, London)

  • Paul Temple

    (University of Surrey)

  • Giovanni Urga

    (Cass Business School, London)

Abstract

We test for the presence of externalities in UK manufacturing industry, seeking to identify the channels through which they operate. Using survey data on average variable cost available by industry, we estimate a translog cost function, storing the coefficients on time dummies for a second stage regression in which measures of external activity are entered to capture omitted spillover effects. We carry out the analysis for total manufacturing and for a panel of ten sub-sectors. We find weak evidence that fixed investment represents one significant channel; there is stronger evidence for an effect stemming from high utilisation in the mechanical engineering sector. This appears to be a combination of both thick market effects and knowledge based externalities.

Suggested Citation

  • Ciaran Driver & Paul Temple & Giovanni Urga, 2005. "Identifying Externalities in UK Manufacturing Using Direct Estimation of an Average Cost Function," School of Economics Discussion Papers 1005, School of Economics, University of Surrey.
    • Handle: RePEc:sur:surrec:1005
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Gianluca Benigno & Luca Fornaro, 2014. "The Financial Resource Curse," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 116(1), pages 58-86, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Costs; Productivity; Externalities; Investment; Manufacturing;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L60 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - General
    • O40 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - General
    • D62 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Externalities

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