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Fixed Costs, Imperfect Competition and Bias in Technology Measurement: Japan and the United States

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  • Kiyohiko G. Nishimura

    (Faculty of Economics, Universtiy of Tokyo)

  • Masato Shirai

    (Department of Economics, University of Tokyo)

Abstract

This paper examines the direction and the magnitude of bias in the technological progress measurement caused by imperfect competition and fixed costs. We show that imperfect competition coupled with fixed costs is likely to make the traditional measurement of technological progress biased. The direction of bias depends on the relative magnitude of growth between the capital stocks and non-capital inputs and on whether firms enjoy a pure profit in the long run. We then measure the actual magnitude of this bias by re-estimating sectoral technological progress in Japan and the United States. We obtain three main results. First, Japan as a whole is less competitive and has larger fixed costs than the United States. Internationally competitive sectors in both countries have smaller fixed cots. Second, the bias in the measurement caused by imperfect competition and fixed costs is relatively small because firms' pure profit is close to zero. Third, there is a negative correlation between technological progress and the pure profit in the United States, though there is no correlation in Japan.

Suggested Citation

  • Kiyohiko G. Nishimura & Masato Shirai, 2000. "Fixed Costs, Imperfect Competition and Bias in Technology Measurement: Japan and the United States," CIRJE F-Series CIRJE-F-97, CIRJE, Faculty of Economics, University of Tokyo.
  • Handle: RePEc:tky:fseres:2000cf97
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    Cited by:

    1. Alan J. Auerbach & Maurice Obstfeld, 2005. "The Case for Open-Market Purchases in a Liquidity Trap," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 95(1), pages 110-137, March.
    2. Hugo Erken & Piet Donselaar & Roy Thurik, 2018. "Total factor productivity and the role of entrepreneurship," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 43(6), pages 1493-1521, December.
    3. Emi Nakamura & Masao Nakamura (presenter) & Takanobu Nakajima, 2004. "Measuring Firms’ R&D Effects on Technical Progress: Japan in the 199," Econometric Society 2004 Far Eastern Meetings 414, Econometric Society.
    4. Kiyohiko G. Nishimura & Kazunori Minetaki & Masato Shirai & Futoshi Kurokawa, 2002. "Effects of Information Technology and Aging Work Force on Labor Demand and Technological Progress in Japanese Industries: 1980-1998," CIRJE F-Series CIRJE-F-145, CIRJE, Faculty of Economics, University of Tokyo.

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