Measuring the Nation’s Economy: An Industry Perspective | A Primer on BEA’s Industry Accounts

This paper introduces new users to the basics of the U.S. industry economic accounts. It provides an overview of each of BEA’s industry accounts and how they may be used to answer a variety of questions about the U.S. economy, industry activity, and the flow of goods and services throughout the economy.

THE STRUCTURE OF TECHNOLOGY, SUBSTITUTION, AND PRODUCTIVITY IN THE INTERSTATE NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION INDUSTRY UNDER THE NATURAL GAS POLICY ACT OF 1978

technology ; production ; price policy ; natural gas ; productivity

TECHNICAL INEFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVE DECLINE IN THE U.S. INTERSTATE NATURAL GAS PIPLINE INDUSTRY UNDER THE NATURAL GAS POLICY ACT

natural gas ; pipeline transport ; natural resources ; productivity ; energy policy

Evaluation And Use Of The Pollution Abatement Costs And Expenditures Survey Micro Data

The Pollution Abatement Costs and Expenditures Survey (PACE) is an annual survey of manufacturing establishment=s operating costs and capital investment expenditures for pollution abatement purposes. This paper provides a description and evaluation of the PACE micro data available at the Center for Economic Studies (CES). The paper provides an overview of the survey, how the sample is drawn, how the survey questionnaire has changed over time, an assessment of the data quality, and suggestions for the use of the data, as well as its limitations. Also included are suggestions for modifying the survey design and data processing procedures. The PACE data series, linked to the economic data in CES= Longitudinal Research Database (LRD), covers the years 1979-1993, excluding 1983 and 1987.CES,economic,research,micro,data,microdata,chief,economist

The Extent and Nature of Establishment Level Diversification in Sixteen U.S. Manufacturing Industries

This paper examines the heterogeneity of establishments in sixteen manufacturing industries. Basic statistical measures are used to decompose product diversification at the establishment level into industry, firm, and establishment effects. The industry effect is the weakest; nearly all the observed heterogeneity is establishment specific. Product diversification at the establishment level is idiosyncratic to the firm. Establishments within a firm exhibit a significant degree of homogeneity, although the grouping of products differ across firms. With few exceptions, economies of scope and scale in production appear to play a minor role in the establishment's mix of outputs.CES,economic,research,micro,data,microdata,chief,economist

Cross Sectional Variation In Toxic Waste Releases From The U.S. Chemical Industry

This paper measures and examines the 1987 cross sectional variation in toxic releases from the U.S. chemical industry. The analysis is based on a unique plant level data set of over 2,100 plants, combining EPA toxic release data with Census Bureau data on economic activity. The main results are that intra-industry variation in toxic releases are as great as, or greater, than inter-industry variation, and that plant, firm, and regulatory characteristics are important factors in explaining observed variation in toxic releases. Even after controlling for primary product and plant characteristics, there are some firms that generate significantly lower toxic waste due to managerial ability and/or technology differences.CES,economic,research,micro,data,microdata,chief,economist