On The Welfare Effects Of Productivity Catch-Up By Laggard Firms
- Topics:
- Organization
- Source:
- University of Nottingham
FREE Registration is required
Overview: The substantial within-industry variation in firm productivity typically observed in the data suggests that there is ample scope for productivity catch-up by laggard firms. We analyse the normative effects of such catch-up. In the short run, where firms' process technologies are fixed, catch-up can reduce social welfare if the initial productivity gap between firms is sufficiently large (the Lahiri/Ono effect). However, in the long run, where firms invest in process R&D to maximize profits, social welfare jumps upwards following catch-up if it causes the major firm's R&D (Research & Development) spending lead to grow. Both qualitative insights appear quite general.
(Is this item miscategorized? Does it need more tags? Let us know.)
Format: PDF | Size: 438KB | Date: Apr 2006 | Pages: 27






