Technical change in the swedish pulp and paper industry : a general index approach

• The overall purpose of this paper is to analyze the rate and the impacts of technical change in the Swedish paper and pulp industry. In contrast to earlier research in this field we replace the time trend with time-specific dummy variables enabling the estimation and decomposing of a general index of technical change. The analysis is made within a Translog cost function model, which is estimated using a panel data set with observations across paper and board mills over the period 1974-1994. Our results indicate that the highest rates of technical change have generally occurred during the latter part of the period. Pure technical change is the primary component that has directed technical change over the entire time period. We also find evidence of non-neutral technical change. Energy use has been stimulated by technical improvements while labour use has been discouraged. Also, technical change has had wastepaper and woodpulp using impacts. However, the magnitude of theselatter impacts is small.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Ekonomi och näringsliv -- Nationalekonomi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Economics and Business -- Economics (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Economics

Nationalekonomi

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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