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Mind the Gap: A Comment on Aggregate Productivity and Technology

Author

Listed:
  • M. Ali Choudhary

    (University of Surrey)

  • Vasco J. Gabriel

    (University of Surrey)

Abstract

This paper reconsiders the empirical results of Basu and Fernald (European Economics Review, 2002) which suggests a significant and persistent gap between the aggregate productivity and technology levels for the US private business sector. We we control for capacity utilisation, time-varying markup and use a superior system estimator, the profile of the gap is shown to change considerably.

Suggested Citation

  • M. Ali Choudhary & Vasco J. Gabriel, 2006. "Mind the Gap: A Comment on Aggregate Productivity and Technology," School of Economics Discussion Papers 1306, School of Economics, University of Surrey.
    • Handle: RePEc:sur:surrec:1306
    as

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    File URL: https://repec.som.surrey.ac.uk/2006/DP13-06.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Miles S. Kimball & John G. Fernald & Susanto Basu, 2006. "Are Technology Improvements Contractionary?," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 96(5), pages 1418-1448, December.
    2. Caballero, Ricardo J. & Lyons, Richard K., 1992. "External effects in U.S. procyclical productivity," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 29(2), pages 209-225, April.
    3. Basu, Susanto & Fernald, John G., 2002. "Aggregate productivity and aggregate technology," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(6), pages 963-991, June.
    4. Craig Burnside & Martin Eichenbaum & Sergio Rebelo, 1995. "Capital Utilization and Returns to Scale," NBER Chapters, in: NBER Macroeconomics Annual 1995, Volume 10, pages 67-124, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    5. Domowitz, Ian & Hubbard, R Glenn & Petersen, Bruce C, 1988. "Market Structure and Cyclical Fluctuations in U.S. Manufacturing," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 70(1), pages 55-66, February.
    6. Burnside, Craig, 1996. "Production function regressions, returns to scale, and externalities," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 37(2-3), pages 177-201, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    productivity; technology; welfare; hours; dynamic-markups;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence
    • O51 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - U.S.; Canada
    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • E23 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Production

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