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A Model of Intangible Capital

Author

Listed:
  • Nicolas Crouzet
  • Janice C. Eberly
  • Andrea L. Eisfeldt
  • Dimitris Papanikolaou

Abstract

We propose a model that starts from the premise that intangible capital needs to be stored on some medium --- software, patents, essential employees --- before it can be utilized in production. Storage implies that intangible capital may be partially non-rival within the firm, leading to scale economies. However, storage can also compromise the ability of the firm to fully appropriate the returns generated by intangibles. We explore the implications of these two mechanisms for firm scale, scope, and investment decisions, and we outline their connection to recent macroeconomic and financial trends in the US.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicolas Crouzet & Janice C. Eberly & Andrea L. Eisfeldt & Dimitris Papanikolaou, 2022. "A Model of Intangible Capital," NBER Working Papers 30376, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:30376
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Robert E. Hall, 2001. "The Stock Market and Capital Accumulation," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 91(5), pages 1185-1202, December.
    2. Ellen R. McGrattan & Edward C. Prescott, 2010. "Technology Capital and the US Current Account," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 100(4), pages 1493-1522, September.
    3. Chang-Tai Hsieh & Esteban Rossi-Hansberg, 2023. "The Industrial Revolution in Services," Journal of Political Economy Macroeconomics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 1(1), pages 3-42.
    4. Nicolas Crouzet & Janice Eberly, 2018. "Intangibles, Investment, and Efficiency," AEA Papers and Proceedings, American Economic Association, vol. 108, pages 426-431, May.
    5. Germán Gutiérrez & Thomas Philippon, 2017. "Investmentless Growth: An Empirical Investigation," Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, Economic Studies Program, The Brookings Institution, vol. 48(2 (Fall)), pages 89-190.
    6. Nicolas Crouzet & Janice C. Eberly, 2021. "Rents and Intangible Capital: A Q+ Framework," NBER Working Papers 28988, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    7. Germán Gutiérrez & Thomas Philippon, 2019. "The Failure of Free Entry," NBER Working Papers 26001, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    8. Andrea L. Eisfeldt & Dimitris Papanikolaou, 2014. "The Value and Ownership of Intangible Capital," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 104(5), pages 189-194, May.
    9. Nicolas Crouzet & Janice C. Eberly & Andrea L. Eisfeldt & Dimitris Papanikolaou, 2022. "The Economics of Intangible Capital," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 36(3), pages 29-52, Summer.
    10. Hayashi, Fumio & Inoue, Tohru, 1991. "The Relation between Firm Growth and Q with Multiple Capital Goods: Theory and Evidence from Panel Data on Japanese Firms," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 59(3), pages 731-753, May.
    11. Helmers, Christian & Rogers, Mark, 2011. "Does patenting help high-tech start-ups?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 40(7), pages 1016-1027, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kox, Henk L.M., 2022. "Linking the knowledge-capital model of foreign direct investment with national knowledge systems," EconStor Preprints 266495, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • E01 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General - - - Measurement and Data on National Income and Product Accounts and Wealth; Environmental Accounts
    • E22 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Investment; Capital; Intangible Capital; Capacity
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G31 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Capital Budgeting; Fixed Investment and Inventory Studies
    • O34 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Intellectual Property and Intellectual Capital

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