Technology Differences over Space and Time

Business & Finance, Career Planning & Job Hunting, Labor, Industries & Professions, Industries
Cover of the book Technology Differences over Space and Time by Francesco Caselli, Princeton University Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Francesco Caselli ISBN: 9781400883608
Publisher: Princeton University Press Publication: November 22, 2016
Imprint: Princeton University Press Language: English
Author: Francesco Caselli
ISBN: 9781400883608
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Publication: November 22, 2016
Imprint: Princeton University Press
Language: English

Technology Differences over Space and Time looks at how countries use their productive resources—such as workers, skills, equipment and structures, and natural resources. Francesco Caselli develops methods to assess the efficiency with which productive inputs are used, and how these efficiencies vary across countries and over time.

Caselli finds that richer countries use skilled workers relatively more efficiently than unskilled workers, and equipment and structures relatively more efficiently than natural resources. They also are relatively more efficient users of labor than of capital. Technological change tends to make countries particularly efficient at using skills and less efficient at using capital. Technical change also favors experienced workers.

In order to interpret and understand these findings, Caselli presents a theory of technology choice. In this theory, firms pick technologies that make the most efficient use of the most abundant production factors when these factors are good substitutes for the less abundant factors. Firms pick technologies that make the most of less abundant factors when other suitable factors are not available for substitution. For example, rich countries, where skilled workers are abundant, use skilled workers efficiently, as these are good substitutes for unskilled workers. This flexible framework can be applied to other pairs of inputs, over time, and across countries.

Technology Differences over Space and Time has significant implications not only for the theoretical understanding of development and technological innovation, but also for government formulation of industrial policy and multinationals making decisions about what to invest in and where to make those investments.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Technology Differences over Space and Time looks at how countries use their productive resources—such as workers, skills, equipment and structures, and natural resources. Francesco Caselli develops methods to assess the efficiency with which productive inputs are used, and how these efficiencies vary across countries and over time.

Caselli finds that richer countries use skilled workers relatively more efficiently than unskilled workers, and equipment and structures relatively more efficiently than natural resources. They also are relatively more efficient users of labor than of capital. Technological change tends to make countries particularly efficient at using skills and less efficient at using capital. Technical change also favors experienced workers.

In order to interpret and understand these findings, Caselli presents a theory of technology choice. In this theory, firms pick technologies that make the most efficient use of the most abundant production factors when these factors are good substitutes for the less abundant factors. Firms pick technologies that make the most of less abundant factors when other suitable factors are not available for substitution. For example, rich countries, where skilled workers are abundant, use skilled workers efficiently, as these are good substitutes for unskilled workers. This flexible framework can be applied to other pairs of inputs, over time, and across countries.

Technology Differences over Space and Time has significant implications not only for the theoretical understanding of development and technological innovation, but also for government formulation of industrial policy and multinationals making decisions about what to invest in and where to make those investments.

More books from Princeton University Press

Cover of the book Market Threads by Francesco Caselli
Cover of the book The Everlasting Empire by Francesco Caselli
Cover of the book Of Empires and Citizens by Francesco Caselli
Cover of the book The Five Habits of Highly Effective Honeybees (and What We Can Learn from Them) by Francesco Caselli
Cover of the book Guru English by Francesco Caselli
Cover of the book The Physics of Neutrinos by Francesco Caselli
Cover of the book Becoming Better Muslims by Francesco Caselli
Cover of the book The Struggle to Reform Our Colleges by Francesco Caselli
Cover of the book The Next Catastrophe by Francesco Caselli
Cover of the book A Thirst for Empire by Francesco Caselli
Cover of the book Blind Spots by Francesco Caselli
Cover of the book Faces of Muhammad by Francesco Caselli
Cover of the book The Lost History of Liberalism by Francesco Caselli
Cover of the book The Nature of Nutrition by Francesco Caselli
Cover of the book Love among the Ruins by Francesco Caselli
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy