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Endogenous Capital- and Labor-Augmenting Technical Change in the Neoclassical Growth Model

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  • Andreas Irmen
  • Amer Tabakovic

Abstract

The determinants of the direction of technical change and their implications for economic growth and economic policy are studied in the one-sector neoclassical growth model of Ramsey, Cass, and Koopmans extended to allow for endogenous capital- and labor-augmenting technical change. We develop a novel micro-foundation for the competitive production sector that rests on the idea that the fabrication of output requires tasks to be performed by capital and labor. Firms may engage in innovation investments that increase the productivity of capital and labor in the performance of their respective tasks. These investments are associated with new technological knowledge that accumulates over time and sustains long-run growth. We show that the equilibrium allocation is not Pareto-efficient since both forms of technical change give rise to an inter-temporal knowledge externality. An appropriate policy of investment subsidies may implement the efficient allocation.

Suggested Citation

  • Andreas Irmen & Amer Tabakovic, 2015. "Endogenous Capital- and Labor-Augmenting Technical Change in the Neoclassical Growth Model," CESifo Working Paper Series 5643, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_5643
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Andreas Irmen, 2021. "Automation, growth, and factor shares in the era of population aging," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 26(4), pages 415-453, December.
    2. Li, Defu & Bental, Benjamin & Huang, Jiuli, 2016. "Stationary Growth and the Impossibility of Capital Efficiency Gains," MPRA Paper 71516, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Irmen, Andreas, 2018. "A Generalized Steady-State Growth Theorem," Macroeconomic Dynamics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 22(4), pages 779-804, June.
    4. Li, Defu & Benjamin, Bental, 2021. "Factor Supply Elasticities, Returns to Scale, and the Direction of Technological Progress," MPRA Paper 109920, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Andreas Irmen, 2020. "Tasks, technology, and factor prices in the neoclassical production sector," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 131(2), pages 101-121, October.
    6. Li, Defu & Bental, Benjamin, 2019. "A Generalized Growth Model and the Direction of Technological Progress," MPRA Paper 96509, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. David Hémous & Morten Olsen, 2021. "Directed Technical Change in Labor and Environmental Economics," Annual Review of Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 13(1), pages 571-597, August.
    8. Li, defu & Bental, Benjamin, 2023. "Why is technical change purely labor-augmenting and skill biased in the 20th century?," MPRA Paper 119047, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    9. Gregory Casey & Ryo Horii, 2019. "A Multi-factor Uzawa Growth Theorem and Endogenous Capital-Augmenting Technological Change," ISER Discussion Paper 1051, Institute of Social and Economic Research, Osaka University.
    10. Growiec, Jakub & McAdam, Peter & Mućk, Jakub, 2018. "Endogenous labor share cycles: Theory and evidence," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 74-93.
    11. Li, Defu & Bental, Benjamin, 2023. "What determines the Direction of Technological Progress(2023.11.16)?," MPRA Paper 119211, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 16 Nov 2023.
    12. Benjamin Bittschi & Berthold U. Wigger, 2019. "On the Political Feasibility of Increasing the Legal Retirement Age," CESifo Working Paper Series 7492, CESifo.
    13. Irmen Andreas, 2020. "Endogenous task-based technical change—factor scarcity and factor prices," Economics and Business Review, Sciendo, vol. 6(2), pages 81-118, June.
    14. Amer Tabakovic, 2015. "On the Characterization of Steady-States in Three-Dimensional Discrete Dynamical Systems," DEM Discussion Paper Series 15-16, Department of Economics at the University of Luxembourg.
    15. Irmen, Andreas & Tabaković, Amer, 2017. "Endogenous capital- and labor-augmenting technical change in the neoclassical growth model," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 346-384.
    16. Guo, Lu & Yan, Chong, 2021. "Optimal Taxation in the Endogenous Growth Framework with the Private Information," MPRA Paper 109548, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    17. Li, Defu & Bental, Benjamin, 2016. "What determines the direction of technological progress?," MPRA Paper 71517, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    endogenous technical change; induced innovation; capital- and labor-augmenting technical change; neoclassical growth model;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • O41 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models

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