Volumes of evidence: examining technical change in the last century through a new lens

Michelle Alexopoulos and Jon Cohen

Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, 2011, vol. 44, issue 2, 413-450

Abstract: Abstract New indicators of technical change based on titles included in the catalogue of the Library of Congress and on Amazon.com's website are presented along with evidence that they do capture technological innovation. The indicators are used to chart the pattern and nature of technical change over the last century. A strong, causal relationship is found to exist between these indicators and changes in TFP and output per capita. Moreover, innovations in some subgroups have had a greater impact on output and productivity than in others and the key players change over time. Information technologies are currently the dominant subgroup. JEL classificatiion: E32, O3, O4, N1 On présente de nouveaux indicateurs de changement technique basés sur les titres inclus dans le catalogue de la Bibliothèque du Congrès et sur le site de Amazon.com, ainsi que des résultats qui indiquent qu’ils saisissent l’innovation technologique. Les indicateurs sont utilisés pour cartographier le pattern et la nature du changement technique au cours du dernier siècle. On trouve qu’il existe une relation causale forte entre ces indicateurs et les changements dans la productivité totale des facteurs et le produit per capita. De plus, des innovations dans certains sous‐groupes ont eu un impact plus grand que d’autres sur la production et la productivité, et les joueurs clés ont changé avec le temps. Les technologies de l’information sont pour le moment le sous‐groupe dominant.

Date: 2011
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (17)

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https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5982.2011.01639.x

Related works:
Journal Article: Volumes of evidence: examining technical change in the last century through a new lens (2011)
Working Paper: Volumes of Evidence - Examining Technical Change Last Century Through a New Lens (2010)
Working Paper: Volumes of Evidence: Examining Technical Change Last Century Through a New Lens (2009)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:wly:canjec:v:44:y:2011:i:2:p:413-450

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