Advantageous redistribution with three smooth CES utility functions

We present a parametric example of three-country advantageous redistribution with two Cobb–Douglas utility functions and one CES utility function for which the elasticity of substitution is 1/2. This paper indicates that the possibility of advantageous redistribution strongly depends on the three countries’ taste patterns, endowment distributions, and the elasticity of substitution. In particular, we will show with specific examples that greater difference between the donor and recipient’s taste patterns and a lower elasticity of substitution can increase the chance of advantageous redistribution.     

流通业增加值占GDP比重变化规律研究——基于我国省级面板数据的实证分析及理论解释

在经济发展过程中,流通业增加值占GDP比重的变化规律很少受到关注。2001年,Anderson和Betancourt指出流通业增加值占GDP的比重和经济增长的长期关系呈倒U型,并运用跨国面板数据进行了实证分析,但没有给出理论解释。选取我国各省1993-2008年的数据,建立静态面板数据模型,对流通业比重和经济发展水平的关系进行了实证分析,结果表明我国流通业比重存在先升后降的倒U型规律。将流通服务看作流通部门的产出,构建流通部门的CES生产函数,对这一规律进行了理论解释。研究启示是:流通业比重变化存在客观规律,不能因流通业属于传统服务业而忽视甚至试图降低其在GDP中的比重,需要遵循这一规律,为服务业结构优化和升级提供相应的政策支持。     

Induced Innovation in U.S. Agriculture: Time-series, Direct Econometric, and Nonparametric Tests

The hypothesis of induced innovation is tested for U.S. agriculture using a high-quality state-level panel data set and three disparate testing techniques—time series, direct econometric, and nonparametric. We find little support for the hypothesis. That conclusion is robust across testing techniques. However, as with all empirical tests of this hypothesis conducted to date, ours focus only on the demand side of the hypothesis. The hypothesis could have been rejected simply because the marginal cost of developing and implementing input-saving technologies for the relatively expensive inputs is greater than for the relatively cheap inputs.     

Micro-foundation for a constant elasticity of substitution production function through mechanization

We consider an increase in the range of capital use as a form of mechanization. A constant elasticity of substitution (CES) production function is dynamically derived from Leontief production functions through the endogenous complementary relationship between capital accumulation and mechanization. This implies that a CES production function can be resolved into technological change that does not involve changes in total factor productivity. Furthermore, using the normalizing procedure of the CES production function developed by de La Grandville [de La Grandville, O., 1989. In quest of the Slutsky diamond. American Economic Review 79, 468–481], we investigate how mechanization is related to the elasticity of substitution in our endogenous growth model.     

Two‐level CES Production Technology in the Solow and Diamond Growth Models*

The two‐level CES aggregate production function—that nests a CES into another CES function—has recently been used extensively in theoretical and empirical applications of macroeconomics. We examine the theoretical properties of this production technology and establish existence and stability conditions of steady states under the Solow and Diamond growth models. It is shown that in the Solow model the sufficient condition for a steady state is fulfilled for a wide range of substitution parameter values. This is in sharp contrast with the two‐factor Solow model, where only an elasticity of substitution equal to one is sufficient to guarantee the existence of a steady state. In the Diamond model, multiple equilibria can occur when the aggregate elasticity of substitution is lower than the capital share. Moreover, it is shown that for high initial levels of capital and factor substitutability, the effect of a further increase in a substitution parameter on the steady state depends on capital–skill complementarity.     

On estimating Armington elasticities for Japan's meat imports

By fully accounting for the distinct tariff regimes levied on imported meat, we estimate substitution elasticities of Japan's two-stage import aggregation functions for beef, chicken and pork. Although the regression analysis crucially depends on the price that consumers face, the post-tariff price of imported meat depends not only on ad valorem duties but also on tariff rate quotas and gate price system regimes. The effective tariff rate is consequently evaluated by utilising monthly transaction data. To address potential endogeneity problems, we apply exchange rates that we believe to be independent of the demand shocks for imported meat. The panel nature of the data allows us to retrieve the first-stage aggregates via time dummy variables, free of demand shocks, to be used as part of the explanatory variable and as an instrument in the second-stage regression.     

相对要素价格均等化:理论模型与实证检验

本文从CES总成本函数的角度,纳入技术水平、要素质量和要素价格等差异化因素,推导了相对要素价格均等化的实证检验模型。中国省际间面板数据(1998-2008)的实证检验结果表明中国省际间存在相对要素价格多锥形均衡,劳动力要素相对价格显著不等,进而从要素供给弹性、国际市场需求变化和产出调整机制等角度做了阐释。     

基于CES生产函数的河北省高新技术产业技术水平效率系数测算

以现代经济增长理论模型中的索洛模型为基础,建立河北省高新技术产业的CES生产函数模型,并应用模型对河北省高新技术产业的技术水平效率系数进行测算,从而并判断河北省高新技术产业规模的发展趋势。     

Comment on “C.E.S. production functions in the light of the Cambridge critique”

The controversy revived in Bertram Schefold’s paper is based on three common assumptions: (1) the underlying techniques are linear (2) perfect competition obtains (3) the economy operates in a putty-putty context. The consequences of dropping these assumptions are discussed, and the relation between nonlinearity and the error due to the use of an “imprecise” production function is examined.