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Accounting for Research and Productivity Growth Across Industries

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  • L. Rachel Ngai
  • Roberto M. Samaniego

Abstract

What factors underlie industry differences in research intensity and productivity growth? We develop a multi-sector endogenous growth model allowing for industry specific parameters in the production functions for output and knowledge, and in consumer preferences. We find that industry differences in both productivity growth and R&D intensity mainly reflect differences in 'technological opportunities', interpreted as parameters of knowledge production. These include the capital intensity of R&D, knowledge spillovers, and diminishing returns to R&D. Among these parameters, we find that the degree of diminishing returns to R&D is the dominant factor when the model is calibrated to account for crossindustry differences in the US.

Suggested Citation

  • L. Rachel Ngai & Roberto M. Samaniego, 2009. "Accounting for Research and Productivity Growth Across Industries," CEP Discussion Papers dp0914, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    • Handle: RePEc:cep:cepdps:dp0914
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Multisector growth; total factor productivity; R&D intensity; technological opportunity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D24 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Production; Cost; Capital; Capital, Total Factor, and Multifactor Productivity; Capacity
    • O3 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights
    • O41 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models

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