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Firm Level Investment in France and the United States: An Exploration of What We Have Learned in Twenty Years

Author

Listed:
  • Bronwyn H. Hall

    (Nuffield College, Oxford & University of California at Berkeley & IFS & NBER)

  • Jacques Mairesse

    (INSEE-CREST & EHESS & NBER)

  • Benoit Mulkay

    (CEREGMIA & Universite des Antilles et de la Guyane)

  • Jacques Mairesse

    (INSEE-CREST & EHESS & NBER)

Abstract

We review the changes in modelling strategy and econometric methodology when estimating a firm-level investment equation on panel data during the past twenty years, in order to assess which of these changes result from new estimation methods and changes in the practice of panel data econometrics, and which are "real" and due to the evolution of the economy. Thus our paper consists of a series of comparisons: a simple accelerator-profit specification versus one with error correction, traditional between- and within-firm estimation versus GMM estimation, the investment behavior of French firms versus that of U.S. firms, and investment behavior today versus ten to twenty years ago. Although the econometric advances have perhaps not been as successful as we had hoped, we do find some real change in firm behavior and some improvement in equation specification and interpretation during the past twenty years.

Suggested Citation

  • Bronwyn H. Hall & Jacques Mairesse & Benoit Mulkay & Jacques Mairesse, 1999. "Firm Level Investment in France and the United States: An Exploration of What We Have Learned in Twenty Years," Econometrics 9902001, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:wpa:wuwpem:9902001
    Note: Type of Document - Acrobat.pdf; to print on HP?; pages: 47; figures: included
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    investment; panel data; GMM; international comparisons; firm- level;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • E22 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Investment; Capital; Intangible Capital; Capacity

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