If factor shares are not constant then we have a measurment problem. can we solve it?

Recent evidence show that factor shares, if properly measured, are far from constant.Moreover, the shares of natural resources and raw labor seem to be negativelycorrelated with income per capita while the share of human and physical capital ispositively correlated with income per capita. Now, if factor shares are not constantthen (i) growth accounting exercises rely on a false assumption and (ii) there is ameasurement problem. The effect that changes in factor shares have on output dependon the relative abundance of factors and, for this reason, it is necessary to havecorrect measures. We propose an empirical methodology to solve the measurementissue and estimate TFP growth.Factor Shares, Production Function, Measurement.

Why labor income shares seem to be constant?

The common assumptions that labor income share does not change over time or across countries and that factor income shares are equal to the elasticity of output with respect to factors have had important implications for economic theory. However, there are various theoretical reasons why the elasticity of output with respect to reproducible factors should be correlated with the stage of development. In particular, the behavior of international trade and capital flows and the existence of factor saving innovations imply such a correlation. If this correlation exists and if factor income shares are equal to the elasticity of output with respect to factors then the labor income share must be negatively correlated with the stage of development. We propose an explanation for why labor income share has no correlation with income per capita: the existence of a labor intensive sector which produces non tradable goods.Factor Income Shares, Elasticity of output with respect to factors, two sector model

Biased innovations in the Harrod-Domar model

This paper presents an endogenous growth model where the aggre- gate production function is a Leontief (1941) and long run growth is completely explained through biased technological change. Under this framework we get two results: (i) if the income share of reproducible factors is high enough, in the long run the economy presents a positive balanced growth path; (ii) if the in- come share of reproducible factors is low, in the long run the economy behaves as a Harrod-Domar economy without long run growth. **************************************************************************************************************** En este art�culo se presenta un modelo de crecimiento donde la funci�n de producci�n es del tipo Leontief (1941), la tasa de ahorro es end�gena y el crecimiento de largo plazo es explicado por cambio tecnol�gico sesgado. En este entorno se obtienen dos resultados: (i) si la participaci�n de los factores reproducibles en el producto es suficientemente alta, en el largo plazo la econom�a presenta una senda de crecimiento balanceado; (ii) si, en cambio, la participaci�n de los factores reproducibles es baja, en el largo plazo no hay crecimiento y la econom�a se comporta al estilo Harrod-Domar.endogenous growth, capital using and labor saving technological change

Factor saving innovations and factor income shares

We present an endogenous growth model where innovation are factor saving. Tecnologies can be changed paying a cost so, tecnological change take place only if the benefits are larger than the cost. Since the gains derived from factor saving innovations depend on factor abundance, biased innovations respond to changes in factor supply, that is, as economy becomes more capital abundant agents try to use in a more intensively. Therefore (a) the elasticity of the output with respect to reproducible factors depends on the capital abundance of the economy and (b) the income share of reducible factors increase as the economy growths. Another insight of the model is that in some economies the production function converges to an AK in the long run, while in others long run growths is cero.endogenous growth, capital using and labor saving innovations, factor income shares

Energy Saving Innovations, Non-Exhaustible Sources of Energy and Long-Run: What Would Happen if we Run Out of Oil?

We formulate and solve a model of factor saving technological improvementconsidering three factors of production: labor, capital and energy.The productive activities have three main characteristics: first, in order to usecapital goods firms need energy; second, there are two sources of energy: nonexhaustibleand exhaustible; third, capital goods can be of different qualitiesand the quality of these goods can be changed along two dimensions-reducingthe need of energy or changing the source of energy used in the productionprocess. The economy goes through three stages of development after industrialization.In the first one, firms make use of exhaustible energy and theefficiency in the use of energy is constant. In the second stage, as the price ofenergy grows the efficiency in its use is increased. In the third stage, the price ofexhaustible sources is so high that firms have incentives to use non-exhaustiblesources of energy. During this stage the price of energy is constant. In this setup, the end of the oil age has level effects on consumption and output but itdoes not cause the collapse of the economic system.**Se formula y resuelve un modelo de cambio tecnológico ahorradorde factores de producción que considera tres factores: capital, trabajo yenergía. El modelo cuenta con características específicas con respecto a la interacción entre la energía (la cual, de acuerdo a su fuente puede ser renovabley no renovable) y el capital. Una vez esta economía se ha definido, se suponeque evoluciona en tres etapas luego de su industrialización, durante las cualesel carácter renovable o no renovable de la energía influye su precio relativo,eficiencia y afecta también el nivel agregado de consumo y producción de laeconomía, sin que esta evolución lleve al colapso del sistema económico.non-exhaustible energy, energy saving innovations, economicgrowth.**energía renovable, innovaciones ahorradoras de energía, crecimientoeconómico.

Energy saving innovations, non-exhaustible sources of energy and long run; what would happen if we run out of oil

We formulate and solve a model of factor saving technological improvement considering three factors of production: labor, capital and energy. The productive activities have three main characteristics: �first, in order to use capital goods fi�rms need energy; second, there are two sources of energy: non-exhaustible and exhaustible; third, capital goods can be of different qualities and the quality ofthese goods can be changed along two dimensions -reducing the need of energy or changing the source of energy used in the production process. The economy goes through three stages of development after industrialization. In the �first, fi�rms make use of exhaustible energy and the efficiency in the use of energy is constant. In the second stage, as the price of energy grows the efficiency in its use is increased. In the third stage, the price of exhaustible sources is so high that fi�rms have incentives to use non-exhaustible sources of energy. During this stage the price of energy is constant. In this set up, the end of the oil age has level effects on consumption and output but it does not cause the collapse of the economic system.non-exhaustible energy, energy saving innovations, economic growth

Biased technological change, human capital and factor shares

We propose a one-good model where technological change is factor saving andcostly. We consider a production function with two reproducible factors: physical capital and human capital, and one not reproducible factor. The main predictions of the model are the following: (a) The elasticity of output with respect to the reproducible factors depends on the factor abundance of the economies. (b) The income share of reproducible factors increases with the stage of development. (c) Depending on the initial conditions, in some economies the production function converges to AK, while in other economies long-run growth is zero. (d) The share of human factors (raw labor and human capital) converges to a positive number lower than one. Along the transition it may decrease, increase or remain constant.endogenous growth, human capital, factor using and factor savinginnovations, factor income shares

An empirical note on factor shares

In general, empirical studies on growth consider, at most, three factors, physical capital, labor and human capital. Land, however, is also a production factor for many activities. In this study, we make growth regressions considering land as factor. We also propose an explanation for why labor and capital shares do not seem to have a trend: It is possible that an increasing trend in physical capital share is compensated by a decreasing trend in land share. Similarly, an increasing trend in human capital share may be compensated by a decreasing trend in raw labor share. We find empirical support for the claim that the elasticity of output with respect to reproducible factors, human and physical capital, is positively correlated with the income level. This result has important implications for economic growth theory and for empirical exercises related to economic growth.Factor Income Shares, Elasticity of output with respect to factors

Poor people and risky business

We try to explain why economic conflicts and illegal business often take place in poor countries. We use the concept of subsistence level of consumption (d) and assume a regular concave utility function for consumption levels higher than d. For consumption levels lower than d utility is constant and equal to zero. Under this framework poor agents are risk-lovers. This result helps to explain why economic conflicts are more likely to appear in poor economies and why poor agents are more willing to undertake illegal business.Poverty, Income Distribution, Illegal Business

The Free Trade Agreement between Colombia and USA: What can happen to Colombia?

In order to assess the impact of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Colombia and the United States of America, we describe the characteristics of the Colombian economy emphasizing its trade patterns and perspectives and identifying the sectors and regions that are likely to be the most sensitive to a FTA. We argue that the effects of a bilateral trade agreement between the USA and Colombia would be similar to those of past trade reforms. However, as Colombia and the USA negotiate the agreement, many other Latin American countries are about to sign trade agreements with the USA. Therefore, the Colombian economy is likely to be affected also by the change in trade rules among its partners. We first analyze the effect of past reforms in Colombia and Mexico, which is our benchmark, and then, using an applied multiregional general equilibrium model, simulate the effects over the Colombian economy of a bilateral agreement with USA. We conclude that, although moderate, there will be an increase in welfare and production of the Colombian consumers and firms.International Trade Agreements, Colombia, multiregional model