Do Technological Improvements in the Manufacturing Sector Raise or Lower Employment?
Article
Do Technological Improvements in the Manufacturing Sector Raise or Lower Employment?
Do Technological Improvements in the Manufacturing Sector Raise or Lower Employment?
Do Technological Improvements in the Manufacturing Sector Raise or Lower Employment?
05-2
2005-04-01
Yongsung Chang {yoncha1}
Jay H. Hong {jayhon1}
<p>We find that technology's effect on employment varies greatly across manufacturing industries. Some industries exhibit a temporary reduction in employment in response to a permanent increase in TFP, whereas far more industries exhibit an employment increase in response to a permanent TFP shock. This raises serious questions about existing work that finds that a labor productivity shock has a strong negative effect on employment. There are tantalizing and interesting differences between TFP and labor productivity. We argue that TFP is a more natural measure of technology because labor productivity reflects shifts in the input mix as well as in technology.</p>
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Labor Markets
1
Labor Markets
<p>We find that technology's effect on employment varies greatly across manufacturing industries. Some industries exhibit a temporary reduction in employment in response to a permanent increase in TFP, whereas far more industries exhibit an employment increase in response to a permanent TFP shock. This raises serious questions about existing work that finds that a labor productivity shock has a strong negative effect on employment. There are tantalizing and interesting differences between TFP and labor productivity. We argue that TFP is a more natural measure of technology because labor productivity reflects shifts in the input mix as well as in technology.</p>
Working Paper Series
05-2
2005-04-01