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.