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Techies and Firm-Level Productivity

Author

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  • Harrigan, James
  • Reshef, Ariell
  • Toubal, Farid

Abstract

We study the impact of techies—engineers and other technically trained workers—on firm-level productivity. We first report new facts on the role of techies in the firm by leveraging French administrative data and unique surveys. Techies are STEM-skill intensive and are associated with innovation, as well as with technology adoption, management, and diffusion within firms. Using structural econometric methods, we estimate the causal effect of techies on firm-level Hicks-neutral productivity in both manufacturing and non-manufacturing industries. We find that techies raise firm-level productivity, and this effect goes beyond the employment of R&D workers, extending to ICT and other techies. In non-manufacturing firms, the impact of techies on productivity operates mostly through ICT and other techies, not R&D workers. Engineers have a greater effect on productivity than technicians.

Suggested Citation

  • Harrigan, James & Reshef, Ariell & Toubal, Farid, 2023. "Techies and Firm-Level Productivity," CEPR Discussion Papers 18183, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:18183
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    2. Fontanelli, Luca & Guerini, Mattia & Miniaci, Raffaele & Secchi, Angelo, "undated". "Predictive AI and productivity growth dynamics: evidence from French firms," FEEM Working Papers 355806, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM).
    3. Marion Leroutier & Hélène Ollivier, 2025. "The Cost of Air Pollution for Workers and Firms," Working Papers hal-05009744, HAL.
    4. Bas, Maria & Fontagné, Lionel & Iodice, Irene & Orefice, Gianluca, 2025. "Heterogeneous trade elasticity and managerial skills," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    5. Beetsma, Roel & Jensen, Svend E. Hougaard & Pinkus, David & Pozzoli, Dario, 2024. "Do Pension Fund Equity Investments Raise Firm Productivity? Evidence From Danish Data," Working Papers 2-2024, Copenhagen Business School, Department of Economics.
    6. Flavio Calvino & Luca Fontanelli, 2023. "Artificial intelligence, complementary assets and productivity: evidence from French firms," LEM Papers Series 2023/35, Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM), Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy.
    7. Giorgi, Julien & Plunket, Anne & Starosta de Waldemar, Felipe, 2025. "Inter-regional highly skilled worker mobility and technological novelty," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 54(1).

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D2 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations
    • D24 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Production; Cost; Capital; Capital, Total Factor, and Multifactor Productivity; Capacity
    • F1 - International Economics - - Trade
    • F16 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade and Labor Market Interactions
    • F6 - International Economics - - Economic Impacts of Globalization
    • F66 - International Economics - - Economic Impacts of Globalization - - - Labor
    • J2 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor
    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • O52 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Europe

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