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Labor-augmenting technical change and the wage share: New microeconomic foundations

Author

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  • Tavani, Daniele
  • Zamparelli, Luca
Abstract
An important question in alternative economic theories has to do with the relationship between the functional income distribution and the growth rate of labor productivity. According to both the induced innovation hypothesis and Marx-biased technical change, labor productivity growth should be an increasing function of the wage share. In this paper, we first discuss the shortcomings of both theories and then provide a novel microeconomic foundation for a direct relationship between the wage share and labor productivity growth. The result arises because of profit-seeking behavior by capitalist firms that face a trade-off between investing in new capital stock and innovating to save on labor costs. Embedding this finding in the Goodwin (1967) growth cycle model, we show that the resulting steady state is locally stable. We also numerically evaluate the persistence (or lack thereof) of growth cycles for varying elasticities of innovation to R&D spending and investment rates.

Suggested Citation

  • Tavani, Daniele & Zamparelli, Luca, 2021. "Labor-augmenting technical change and the wage share: New microeconomic foundations," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 27-34.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:streco:v:56:y:2021:i:c:p:27-34
    DOI: 10.1016/j.strueco.2020.09.004
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    Cited by:

    1. Thomas R Michl & Daniele Tavani, 2022. "Path dependence and stagnation in a classical growth model," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 46(1), pages 195-218.
    2. Eric Kemp-Benedict, 2022. "A classical-evolutionary model of technological change," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 32(4), pages 1303-1343, September.
    3. Zamparelli, Luca, 2024. "On the positive relation between the wage share and labor productivity growth with endogenous size and direction of technical change," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    4. Sasaki, Hiroaki, 2024. "The Paradox of Technological Progress, Growth, Distribution, and Employment in a Demand-led Framework," MPRA Paper 121694, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Endogenous technical change; Income shares; Employment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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