DP14438 Utilization-Adjusted TFP Across Countries: Measurement and Implications for International Comovement

Author(s):	Zhen Huo, Andrei A. Levchenko, Nitya Pandalai-Nayar
Publication Date:	February 2020
Date Revised:	December 2020
Keyword(s):	international comovement, Solow residual, TFP, Utilization
JEL(s):	F41, F44
Programme Areas:	International Macroeconomics and Finance, Monetary Economics and Fluctuations
Link to this Page:	cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=14438

This paper develops estimates of TFP growth adjusted for movements in unobserved factor utilization for a panel of 29 countries and up to 37 years. When factor utilization changes are unobserved, the commonly used Solow residual mismeasures actual changes in TFP. We use a general equilibrium dynamic multi-country multi-sector model to derive a production function estimating equation that corrects for unobserved factor usage. We compare the properties of utilization-adjusted TFP series to the standard Solow residual, and quantify the roles of both TFP and utilization for international business cycle comovement. Utilization-adjusted TFP is virtually uncorrelated across countries, and does not generate much GDP comovement through its propagation. Shocks to factor utilization can more successfully account for international comovement.