IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/ecl/corcae/04-13.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

On Choice of Technique in the Robinson-Solow-Srinivasan Model

Author

Listed:
  • Khan, M. Ali

    (Johns Hopkins U)

  • Mitra, Tapan

    (Cornell U)

Abstract

We report results on the optimal "choice of technique" in a model originally formulated by Robinson, Solow and Srinivasan. By viewing this model as a specific instance of the general theory of intertemporal resource allocation associated with Brock, Gale and McKenzie, we resolve long-standing conjectures in the form of theorems on the existence and price-support of optimal paths, and on their long-run behavior. We also examine policies, due to Stiglitz, as a cornerstone for a theory of transition dynamics in this model. We present examples to show that (i) an optimal program can be periodic, (ii) a Stiglitz' program can be bad, and (iii) a Stiglitz production program can be non-optimal. We then provide sufficient conditions under which the policies proposed by Stiglitz coincide with optimal behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Khan, M. Ali & Mitra, Tapan, 2004. "On Choice of Technique in the Robinson-Solow-Srinivasan Model," Working Papers 04-13, Cornell University, Center for Analytic Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ecl:corcae:04-13
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://cae.economics.cornell.edu/04-13.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    Other versions of this item:

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bardhan, Pranab K, 1971. "Optimum Growth and Allocation of Foreign Exchange," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 39(6), pages 955-971, November.
    2. Hansen, Terje & Koopmans, Tjalling C., 1972. "On the definition and computation of a capital stock invariant under optimization," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 5(3), pages 487-523, December.
    3. Cass, David & Stiglitz, Joseph E, 1969. "The Implications of Alternative Saving and Expectations Hypotheses for Choices of Technique and Patterns of Growth," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 77(4), pages 586-627, Part II, .
    4. M. Ali Khan & Tapan Mitra, 2005. "On choice of technique in the Robinson–Solow–Srinivasan model," International Journal of Economic Theory, The International Society for Economic Theory, vol. 1(2), pages 83-110, June.
    5. Costa, Carlos Eugênio da, 2003. "Risk sharing and the household collective model," FGV EPGE Economics Working Papers (Ensaios Economicos da EPGE) 497, EPGE Brazilian School of Economics and Finance - FGV EPGE (Brazil).
    6. Dutta, Prajit K. & Mitra, Tapan, 1989. "Maximum theorems for convex structures with an application to the theory of optimal intertemporal allocation," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 18(1), pages 77-86, February.
    7. Mitra, Tapan & Wan, Henry Jr., 1986. "On the faustmann solution to the forest management problem," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 40(2), pages 229-249, December.
    8. Bliss, C. J., 1975. "Capital Theory and the Distribution of Income," Elsevier Monographs, Elsevier, edition 1, number 9780720436044 edited by Bliss, C. J..
    9. Neri, Marcelo Côrtes, 2002. "Brazilian macroeconomics with a human face: metropolitan crisis, poverty and social targets," FGV EPGE Economics Working Papers (Ensaios Economicos da EPGE) 464, EPGE Brazilian School of Economics and Finance - FGV EPGE (Brazil).
    10. Costa, Carlos Eugênio da, 2003. "Normality under uncertainty," FGV EPGE Economics Working Papers (Ensaios Economicos da EPGE) 496, EPGE Brazilian School of Economics and Finance - FGV EPGE (Brazil).
    11. Leonardo Rocha Souza, 2005. "A Note On Chambers'S "Long Memory And Aggregation In Macroeconomic Time Series"," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 46(3), pages 1059-1062, August.
    12. K. N. Raj & A. K. Sen, 1961. "Alternative Patterns Of Growth Under Conditions Of Stagnant Export Earnings," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 13(1), pages 43-52.
    13. Costa, Carlos Eugênio da, 2003. "Optimal taxation with gradual learning of types," FGV EPGE Economics Working Papers (Ensaios Economicos da EPGE) 499, EPGE Brazilian School of Economics and Finance - FGV EPGE (Brazil).
    14. Ferreira, Pedro Cavalcanti & Pessôa, Samuel de Abreu, 2003. "The costs of education, longevity and the poverty of nations," FGV EPGE Economics Working Papers (Ensaios Economicos da EPGE) 472, EPGE Brazilian School of Economics and Finance - FGV EPGE (Brazil).
    15. David Gale, 1967. "On Optimal Development in a Multi-Sector Economy," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 34(1), pages 1-18.
    16. Neri, Marcelo Côrtes & Soares, Wagner Lopes, 2003. "Idade, incapacidade e a inflação do número de pessoas com deficiência," FGV EPGE Economics Working Papers (Ensaios Economicos da EPGE) 490, EPGE Brazilian School of Economics and Finance - FGV EPGE (Brazil).
    17. Souza, Leonardo Rocha, 2003. "The aliasing effect, the Fejer Kernel and temporally aggregated long memory processes," FGV EPGE Economics Working Papers (Ensaios Economicos da EPGE) 470, EPGE Brazilian School of Economics and Finance - FGV EPGE (Brazil).
    18. Robinson, Joan, 1969. "A Model for Accumulation Proposed by J. E. Stiglitz," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 79(314), pages 412-413, June.
    19. W. A. Brock, 1970. "On Existence of Weakly Maximal Programmes in a Multi-Sector Economy," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 37(2), pages 275-280.
    20. Leonardo Rocha Souza, 2007. "Temporal Aggregation and Bandwidth selection in estimating long memory," Journal of Time Series Analysis, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(5), pages 701-722, September.
    21. McKenzie, Lionel W., 2005. "Optimal economic growth, turnpike theorems and comparative dynamics," Handbook of Mathematical Economics, in: K. J. Arrow & M.D. Intriligator (ed.), Handbook of Mathematical Economics, edition 2, volume 3, chapter 26, pages 1281-1355, Elsevier.
    22. Hiroshi Atsumi, 1965. "Neoclassical Growth and the Efficient Program of Capital Accumulation," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 32(2), pages 127-136.
    23. Neri, Marcelo Côrtes & Soares, Wagner Lopes, 2002. "Pobreza, ativos e saúde no Brasil," FGV EPGE Economics Working Papers (Ensaios Economicos da EPGE) 465, EPGE Brazilian School of Economics and Finance - FGV EPGE (Brazil).
    24. Maurice Dobb, 1956. "Second Thoughts on Capital-Intensity of Investment," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 24(1), pages 33-42.
    25. Stiglitz, Joseph E, 1970. "Reply to Mrs. Robinson on the Choice of Technique," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 80(318), pages 420-422, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. M. Khan & Alexander Zaslavski, 2007. "On a Uniform Turnpike of the Third Kind in the Robinson-Solow-Srinivasan Model," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 92(2), pages 137-166, October.
    2. M. Khan & Alexander Zaslavski, 2010. "On locally optimal programs in the Robinson–Solow–Srinivasan model," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 99(1), pages 65-92, February.
    3. Monteiro, Paulo Klinger, 2006. "The set of equilibria of first-price auctions," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(3), pages 364-372, June.
    4. Ali Khan, M. & Piazza, Adriana, 2012. "On the Mitra–Wan forestry model: A unified analysis," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 147(1), pages 230-260.
    5. Khan, M. Ali, 2016. "On a forest as a commodity and on commodification in the discipline of forestry," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 7-17.
    6. M. Ali Khan & Tapan Mitra, 2005. "On choice of technique in the Robinson–Solow–Srinivasan model," International Journal of Economic Theory, The International Society for Economic Theory, vol. 1(2), pages 83-110, June.
    7. M. Ali Khan & Tapan Mitra, 2007. "Optimal Growth In A Two‐Sector Rss Model Without Discounting: A Geometric Investigation," The Japanese Economic Review, Japanese Economic Association, vol. 58(2), pages 191-225, June.
    8. Deng, Liuchun & Khan, M. Ali & Mitra, Tapan, 2022. "Continuous unimodal maps in economic dynamics: On easily verifiable conditions for topological chaos," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    9. Liuchun Deng & Minako Fujio & M. Ali Khan, 2021. "Eventual periodicity in the two-sector RSL model: equilibrium vis-à-vis optimum growth," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 72(2), pages 615-639, September.
    10. Tavani, Daniele, 2008. "Optimal Induced Innovation and Growth with Congestion of a Limited Natural Resource," MPRA Paper 11525, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. Deng, Liuchun & Khan, M. Ali & Mitra, Tapan, 2020. "Exact parametric restrictions for 3-cycles in the RSS model: A complete and comprehensive characterization," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 48-56.
    12. Alexander J. Zaslavski, 2023. "An Optimal Control Problem Related to the RSS Model," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(17), pages 1-14, September.
    13. Khan, M. Ali & Mitra, Tapan, 2005. "On topological chaos in the Robinson-Solow-Srinivasan model," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 88(1), pages 127-133, July.
    14. Khalifa, Sherif, 2011. "Undiscounted optimal growth with consumable capital and labor-intensive consumption goods," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 28(4), pages 1673-1682, July.
    15. A. J. Zaslavski, 2010. "Stability of a Turnpike Phenomenon for a Discrete-Time Optimal Control System," Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications, Springer, vol. 145(3), pages 597-612, June.
    16. Cavalcanti Ferreira, Pedro & Facchini, Giovanni, 2005. "Trade liberalization and industrial concentration: Evidence from Brazil," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 45(2-3), pages 432-446, May.
    17. M. Ali Khan & Adriana Piazza, 2010. "On uniform convergence of undiscounted optimal programs in the Mitra–Wan forestry model: The strictly concave case," International Journal of Economic Theory, The International Society for Economic Theory, vol. 6(1), pages 57-76, March.
    18. Metcalf, Christopher J., 2008. "The dynamics of the Stiglitz policy in the RSS model," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 37(3), pages 652-661.
    19. Khan, M. Ali & Zaslavski, Alexander J., 2009. "On existence of optimal programs: The RSS model without concavity assumptions on felicities," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 45(9-10), pages 624-633, September.
    20. Kenji Sato & Makoto Yano, 2013. "Optimal ergodic chaos under slow capital depreciation," International Journal of Economic Theory, The International Society for Economic Theory, vol. 9(1), pages 57-67, March.
    21. Fujio, Minako & Lei, Yan & Deng, Liuchun & Khan, M. Ali, 2021. "The miniature two-sector model of optimal growth: The neglected case of a capital-intensive investment-good sector," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 186(C), pages 662-671.
    22. Minako Fujio, 2009. "Optimal Transition Dynamics In The Leontief Two‐Sector Growth Model With Durable Capital: The Case Of Capital Intensive Consumption Goods," The Japanese Economic Review, Japanese Economic Association, vol. 60(4), pages 490-511, December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Minako Fujio, 2009. "Optimal Transition Dynamics In The Leontief Two‐Sector Growth Model With Durable Capital: The Case Of Capital Intensive Consumption Goods," The Japanese Economic Review, Japanese Economic Association, vol. 60(4), pages 490-511, December.
    2. Khan, M. Ali & Zaslavski, Alexander J., 2009. "On existence of optimal programs: The RSS model without concavity assumptions on felicities," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 45(9-10), pages 624-633, September.
    3. M. Khan & Alexander Zaslavski, 2007. "On a Uniform Turnpike of the Third Kind in the Robinson-Solow-Srinivasan Model," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 92(2), pages 137-166, October.
    4. M. Ali Khan & Adriana Piazza, 2010. "On uniform convergence of undiscounted optimal programs in the Mitra–Wan forestry model: The strictly concave case," International Journal of Economic Theory, The International Society for Economic Theory, vol. 6(1), pages 57-76, March.
    5. Ali Khan, M. & Piazza, Adriana, 2012. "On the Mitra–Wan forestry model: A unified analysis," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 147(1), pages 230-260.
    6. Metcalf, Christopher J., 2008. "The dynamics of the Stiglitz policy in the RSS model," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 37(3), pages 652-661.
    7. Fabbri, Giorgio & Faggian, Silvia & Freni, Giuseppe, 2015. "On the Mitra–Wan forest management problem in continuous time," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 1001-1040.
    8. Mitra, Tapan, 2004. "Intergenerational Equity and the Forest Management Problem," Working Papers 04-17, Cornell University, Center for Analytic Economics.
    9. Khalifa, Sherif, 2011. "Undiscounted optimal growth with consumable capital and labor-intensive consumption goods," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 28(4), pages 1673-1682, July.
    10. Khan, M. Ali & Piazza, Adriana, 2010. "On the non-existence of optimal programs in the Robinson-Solow-Srinivasan (RSS) model," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 109(2), pages 94-98, November.
    11. Ali Khan, M. & Mitra, Tapan, 2008. "Growth in the Robinson-Solow-Srinivasan model: Undiscounted optimal policy with a strictly concave welfare function," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 44(7-8), pages 707-732, July.
    12. Monteiro, Paulo Klinger, 2006. "The set of equilibria of first-price auctions," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(3), pages 364-372, June.
    13. Banerjee, Kuntal, 2017. "Suppes–Sen maximality of cyclical consumption: The neoclassical growth model," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 51-65.
    14. Alexander J. Zaslavski, 2023. "An Optimal Control Problem Related to the RSS Model," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(17), pages 1-14, September.
    15. Khan, M. Ali & Mitra, Tapan, 2005. "On topological chaos in the Robinson-Solow-Srinivasan model," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 88(1), pages 127-133, July.
    16. M. Khan & Alexander Zaslavski, 2010. "On locally optimal programs in the Robinson–Solow–Srinivasan model," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 99(1), pages 65-92, February.
    17. Cavalcanti Ferreira, Pedro & Facchini, Giovanni, 2005. "Trade liberalization and industrial concentration: Evidence from Brazil," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 45(2-3), pages 432-446, May.
    18. Dapeng CAI & Takashi Gyoshin NITTA, 2008. "Limit of the Solutions for the Finite Horizon Problems as the Optimal Solution to the Infinite Horizon Optimization Problems," Papers 0803.4050, arXiv.org.
    19. Banerjee, Kuntal & Mitra, Tapan, 2010. "Equivalence of utilitarian maximal and weakly maximal programs," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 46(3), pages 279-292, May.
    20. Truman Bewley, 2010. "An Integration of Equilibrium Theory and Turnpike Theory," Levine's Working Paper Archive 1381, David K. Levine.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C62 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Existence and Stability Conditions of Equilibrium
    • D90 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - General
    • O21 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Development Planning and Policy - - - Planning Models; Planning Policy

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:ecl:corcae:04-13. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: the person in charge (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/cacorus.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.