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Estimation of sectoral elasticities of substitution along the international technology frontier

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  • Baccianti, Claudio

Abstract

Sectoral heterogeneity is crucial to address several economic questions. This paper provides a detailed mapping of sectoral production possibility frontiers, using different nesting structures and levels of aggregation (primary, secondary, tertiary activities and energy-intensive firms). Elasticities of substitution between capital, labour and energy are identified by employing an international multi-sector dataset, accounting for biased technological change and normalising the production function to clusters of observations. Complementarity dominates, with the noteworthy exception of the capital-labour composite, close to Cobb-Douglas. I also present some stylized facts relating substitution elasticities to sectoral characteristics.

Suggested Citation

  • Baccianti, Claudio, 2013. "Estimation of sectoral elasticities of substitution along the international technology frontier," ZEW Discussion Papers 13-092, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:zewdip:13092
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    6. Zuzana Smeets Kristkova & Cornelis Gardebroek & Michiel van Dijk & Hans van Meijl, 2017. "The impact of R&D on factor-augmenting technical change – an empirical assessment at the sector level," Economic Systems Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(3), pages 385-417, July.
    7. Antoszewski, Michał, 2019. "Wide-range estimation of various substitution elasticities for CES production functions at the sectoral level," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 272-289.
    8. Zachlod-Jelec, Magdalena & Boratynski, Jakub, 2016. "How large and uncertain are costs of 2030 GHG emissions reduction target for the European countries? Sensitivity analysis in a global CGE model," MF Working Papers 26, Ministry of Finance in Poland.
    9. Claudio Baccianti & Andreas Löschel, 2015. "Investment-specific versus Process Innovation in a CGE Model of Environmental Policy. WWWforEurope Working Paper No. 85," WIFO Studies, WIFO, number 57893, April.
    10. Saam, Marianne, 2014. "The identification of directed technical change revisited," ZEW Discussion Papers 14-127, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    11. Sergio De Nardis & Francesca Parente, 2022. "Technology and task changes in the major EU countries," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 40(2), pages 391-413, April.
    12. Lagomarsino, Elena, 2020. "Estimating elasticities of substitution with nested CES production functions: Where do we stand?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    13. Malliet, Paul & Reynès, Frédéric G., 2022. "Empirical estimates of the elasticity of substitution of a KLEM production function without nesting constraints: The case of the Variable Output Elasticity-Cobb Douglas," Conference papers 333423, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.
    14. Cao, Jing & Ho, Mun S. & Ma, Rong, 2020. "Analyzing carbon pricing policies using a general equilibrium model with production parameters estimated using firm data," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Constant Elasticity of Substitution; Normalisation; Sectoral Disaggregation; Nested CES Structure; Energy Demand;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C68 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Computable General Equilibrium Models
    • O14 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Industrialization; Manufacturing and Service Industries; Choice of Technology
    • O41 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models
    • Q43 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Energy and the Macroeconomy

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