Discussion paper

DP5086 Factor Supplies and the Direction of Technological Change

In this paper, we empirically address the hypothesis that there is a relationship between the supply of human capital and the rate and direction of skill-biased technical change (SBTC). Using country- and industry-level data on OECD countries, we find R&D to be positively related to the supply of human capital. There is, however, no indication that this translates into higher rates of SBTC, when SBTC is measured as changes in the wage bill share of skilled labour. Interestingly, both R&D and the rate of SBTC seem to be relatively high in low-skill industries in countries where the supply of human capital is relatively high.

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Citation

Vlachos, J and H Svaleryd (2005), ‘DP5086 Factor Supplies and the Direction of Technological Change‘, CEPR Discussion Paper No. 5086. CEPR Press, Paris & London. https://cepr.org/publications/dp5086