1 Economics 122 Macroeconomics in the long run: Economic growth

2 Agenda Introductory background Essential aspects of economic growth Aggregate production functions Neoclassical growth model Simulation of increased saving experiment Debt, deficits, and growth

Great divide of macroeconomics Aggregate demand and business cycles Aggregate supply and “economic growth”

4 Review of aggregate production function Y t = A t F(K t, L t ) K t = capital services (like rentals as apartment-years) L t = labor services (hours worked) A t = level of technology g x = growth rate of x = (1/x t ) dx t /dt = Δ x t /x t-1 = d[ln(x t) )]/dt g A = growth of technology = rate of technological change = Δ A t /A t-1 Constant returns to scale: λY t = A t F(λK t, λL t ), or all inputs increased by λ means output increased by λ Perfect competition in factor and product markets (for p = 1): MPK = ∂Y/∂K = R = rental price of capital; ∂Y/∂L = w = wage rate Exhaustion of product with CRTS: MPK x K + MPL x L = RK + wL = Y Alternative measures of productivity: Labor productivity = Y t /L t Total factor productivity (TFP) = A t = Y t /F(K t, L t )

5 Review: Cobb-Douglas aggregate production function Remember Cobb-Douglas production function: Y t = A t K t α L t 1-α or ln(Y t )= ln(A t ) + α ln(K t ) +(1-α) ln(L t ) Here α = ∂ln(Y t )/∂ln(K t ) = elasticity of output w.r.t. capital; (1-α ) = elasticity of output w.r.t. labor MPK = R t = α A t K t α-1 L t 1-α = α Y t /K t Share of capital in national income = R t K t /Y t = α = constant. Ditto for share of labor.

6 Note 1. Cobb-Douglas p. f. implies that factor shares in national income are constant. Note 2. Cobb-Douglas p. f. implies that growth in wages = growth in labor productivity (g w = g Y/L )

The MIT School of Economics 7 Paul Samuelson Robert Solow

8 Basic neoclassical growth model Major assumptions: 1.Basic setup: - full employment -flexible wages and prices -perfect competition -closed economy 2. Capital accumulation: ΔK/K = sY – δK; s = investment rate = constant 3. Labor supply: Δ L/L = n = exogenous 4. Production function - constant returns to scale - two factors (K, L) - single output used for both C and I: Y = C + I - no technological change to begin with - in next model, labor-augmenting technological change 5.Change of variable to transform to one-equation model: k = K/L = capital-labor ratio Y = F(K, L) = LF(K/L,1) y = Y/L = F(K/L,1) = f(k), where f(k) is per capita production fn.

9 Major variables: Y = output (GDP) L = labor inputs K = capital stock or services I = gross investment w = real wage rate r = real rate of return on capital (rate of profit) E = efficiency units = level of labor-augmenting technology (growth of E is technological change = ΔE/E) L ~ = efficiency labor inputs = EL = similarly for other variables with “ ~ ”notation) Further notational conventions Δ x = dx/dt g x = growth rate of x = (1/x) dx/dt = Δx t /x t-1 =dln(x t )/dt s = I/Y = savings and investment rate k = capital-labor ratio = K/L c = consumption per capita = C/L i = investment per worker = I/L δ = depreciation rate on capital y = output per worker = Y/L n = rate of growth of population (or labor force) = g L = Δ L/L v = capital-output ratio = K/Y h = rate of labor-augmenting technological change

10 We want to derive “laws of motion” of the economy. To do this, start with: 5. Δ k/k = Δ K/K - Δ L/L With some algebra, this becomes: 5’. Δ k/k = Δ K/K - n Y Δ k = sf(k) - (n + δ) k which in steady state is: 6. sf(k*) = (n + δ) k* In steady state, y, k, w, and r are constant. No growth in real wages, real incomes, per capita output, etc. ΔK/K = (sY – δK)/K = s(Y/L)(L/K) – δ Δk/k = ΔK/K – n = s(Y/L)(L/K) – δ – n Δk = k [ s(Y/L)(L/K) – δ – n] = sy – (δ + n)k = sf(k) – (δ + n)k

11 k y = Y/L y = f(k) (n+δ)k y* i* = (I/Y)* k* i = sf(k)

12 Predictions of basic model: –“Steady state” –constant y, w, k, and r –g Y = n Uniqueness and stability of equilibrium. –Equilibrium is unique –Equilibrium is stable (meaning k → k* as t → ∞ for all initial k 0 ). Results of neoclassical model without TC

Now let’s step back a moment to consider the meaning of economic growth in the broader context. 13

14 1.Growth involves potential output -Potential GDP = output if unemployment rate at NAIRU -Distinguish from business cycles, which is utilization of potential -Implicit assumption about business cycle: policy keeps economy near full employment 2. Most growth theories deal with dynamic version of full-employment, “classical”-type economy -This is closest thing to “consensus macroeconomics” General concepts

15 Actual and potential output

16 3. “Productivity isn't everything, but in the long run it is almost everything.” - As we will see, in the long run, real wages and per capita income grow (almost) proportionally with labor productivity (= GDP per hour worked). General concepts

Growth in per capita income (average, percent per year) Data for Western Europe from Angus Maddison

U.S. Productivity Growth in the 20 th Century Growth in output per hour (% per year)

19 4. Economic growth involves: - increase in quantity (bushels of wheat) - improved quality of goods and services - new goods and services General concepts

Mining in rich and poor countries Canada 20 D.R. Congo

Farming the rocks, Morocco, 2001

Medicine in rich and poor countries Scan for lung cancer 22 African medicine man

Economic growth and improved health status: Eradication of polio

Health: Disappearance of polio: A benefit of growth that is not captured in the GDP statistics!

25 Historical Trends in Economic Growth in the US since Strong growth in Y 2. Strong growth in productivity (both Y/L and TFP) 3. Steady “capital deepening” (increase in K/L) 4. Strong growth in real wages since early 19 th C; g(w/p) ~ g(X/L) 5. Real interest rate and profit rate basically trendless

26 Share of compensation in national income Labor share of national income in US - Slow increase over most of century - Tiny decline in recent years as profits rose - Big rise in fringe benefit share (and decline in wage share) Fringe benefits: (health, retirement, social insurance)

27 Growth trend, US, g X = xxx/60; So: g Y = 3.3% g K = 2.9% g H =1.5%

28 Predictions of basic model without TC: –“Steady state” property misses major trends of growth in y, w, and k. –Missing element is technological change Results of neoclassical model without TC

29 Introducing technological change 29 Introducing technological change First model omits technological change (TC). Let’s see if we can fix up the problems by introducing TC. What is TC? - New processes that increase TFP (assembly line, fiber optics) - Improvements in quality of goods (plasma TV) -New goods and services (automobile, telephone, iPod) Analytically, TC is - Shift in production function.

The greatest technological change in history Thomas arithmometer, 1870 IBM/LANL Roadrunner ( petaflops) (1.10 petaflops) [petaflop = floating point operations per second]

31 Introducing technological change 31 Introducing technological change We take specific form which is “labor-augmenting technological change” at rate h. For this, we need new variable called “efficiency labor units” denoted as E where E = efficiency units of labor and ~ indicates efficiency units. New production function is then Note: Redefining labor units in efficiency terms is a specific way of representing TC that makes everything work out easily. Other forms will give slightly different results.

T.C. for the Cobb-Douglas In C-D case, labor-augmenting TC is very simple: So for C-D, labor augmenting is “output-augmenting” with a scalar adjustment of the labor elasticity. 32

33 i*=I*/Y* Impact with labor-augmenting TC

34 For C-D case, Unique and stable equilibrium under standard assumptions: Predictions of basic model: –Steady state: constant –Here output per capita, capital per capita, and wage rate grow at h. –Labor’s share of output is constant. –Hence, capture the basic trends! Results of neoclassical model with labor-augmenting TC

35 ln (Y), etc. time ln (L) Time profiles of major variables with TC ln (K) ln (Y)

36 Sources of TC Technological change is in some deep sense “endogenous.” But very difficult to model Subject of “new growth theory”: –explains TC as return to investment in research and human capital. –Major difference from conventional investment is “public goods” nature of knowledge –I.e., social return to research >> private return because of spillovers (externalities) Major policy questions: - research and development policy - intellectual property rights (such as patents for drugs) - big $ and big economic stakes involved

37 Now let’s move on to applications of economic growth theory

38 Several “comparative dynamics” experiments Change growth in labor force (immigration or retirement policy) Change in rate of TC Change in national savings and investment rate (tax changes, savings changes, demographic changes) Here we will investigate only a change in the national savings rate.

39 Two faces of saving

40 Government debt and deficits and the economy: What is the effect of deficit reduction on the economy? 1.A. In short run, with constant real interest rate: contractionary (straight Keynesian effect in IS-LM analysis) B. In short run, with full monetary response: (neoclassical synthesis, Samuelson-Tobin policy) first have fiscal tightening then have monetary response with output/inflation targets that offsets fiscal contraction no impact on U or short-run Q have higher public and national savings rate 3. In long-run, neoclassical growth model -higher s rate leads to a higher trajectory for K, Y, w, etc. -numerical example with Cobb-Douglas

41 k y = f(k) (n+δ)k y* (I/Y)* k* Impact of Higher National Saving k** y** i = s 2 f(k) i = s 1 f(k)

42 Numerical Example of 1993 Budget Act in Neoclassical Growth Model Assumptions: 1.Production is by Cobb-Douglas with CRTS 2. Labor plus labor-augmenting TC: 1. n = 1.5 % p.a.; h = 1.5 % p.a. 3. Full employment; constant labor force participation rate. 4.Savings assumption: a. Private savings rate = 18 % of GDP b. Initial govt. savings rate = minus 2 % of GDP c. In 1992, govt. changes fiscal policy and runs a surplus of 2 % of GDP d. All of higher govt. S goes into national S (i.e., constant private savings rate) 5. “Calibrate” to U.S. economy

43 Impact of Increased Government Saving on Major Variables - Note that takes 10 years to increase C -Political implications - Must C increase? - No if k>k goldenrule

44 Results on Growth Rates: -Modest impact on growth in short run -Consumption down then up -No impact on growth in long run -GDP v NNP (remember that GDP excludes earnings on foreign assets)

45 What if savings in an open economy? For small open economy –What happens if savings rate increases? – In this case the marginal investment is abroad! –Therefore, same result, but impact is upon net foreign assets, investment earnings, and not on domestic capital stock and domestic income. –No diminishing returns to investment (fixed r) –Will show up in NNP not in GDP! (Most macro models get this wrong.) Large open economy like US: –Somewhere in between small open and closed. –I.e., some increase in domestic I and some in increase net foreign assets

46 Open economy with mobile financial capital ( r = world r = r w ) NX = S - I I(r) r = r w S r = real interest rate I, S, NX NX deficit

47 With higher saving in small open economy I(r) r = r w S1S1 r = real interest rate I, S, NX0 Final NX surplus Original NX deficit S0S0 Higher saving: 1.No change I 2.No change GDP 3.Higher foreign saving 4.Increase GNP, NNP

48 Conclusions on Fiscal Policy and Economic Growth Fiscal policy affects economic growth through impact of government surplus through national savings rate Increases potential output through: –higher capital stock for domestic investment –higher income on foreign assets for foreign investment Consumption decreases at first then catches up after a decade or so

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50 Growth Accounting Growth accounting is a widely used technique used to separate out the sources of growth in a country relies on the neoclassical growth model Derivation Start with production function and competitive assumptions. For simplicity, assume a Cobb-Douglas production function with labor- augmenting technological change: (1)Y t = A t K t α L t 1-α Take logarithms: (2)ln(Y t ) = ln(A t )+ α ln(K t ) + (1 - α) ln(L t ) Now take the time derivative. Note that ∂ln(x)/∂x=1/x and use chain rule: (3)∂ln(Y t )/∂t= g[Y t ] = g[A t ] )+ α g[K t ] + (1 - α) g[L t ] In the C-D production function (see above), ) α is the competitive share of K sh(K); and (1 - α) the competitive share of labor sh(L). (4)g[Y t ] = g[A t ] + sh(K) g[K t ] + (1 – sh(L)) g[L t ] From this, we estimate the rate of TC as: (5) g[A t ] = g[Y t ] –{sh(K) g[K t ] + (1 – sh(L)) g[L t ]}

51 (1)Y t = A t K t α L t 1-α Take logarithms: (2)ln(Y t ) = ln(A t )+ α ln(K t ) + (1 - α) ln(L t ) Now take the time derivative. Note that ∂ln(x)/∂x=1/x and use chain rule: (3)∂ln(Y t )/∂t= g[Y t ] = g[A t ] )+ α g[K t ] + (1 - α) g[L t ] In the C-D production function (see above), ) α is the competitive share of K sh(K); and (1 - α) the competitive share of labor sh(L). (4)g[Y t ] = g[A t ] + sh(K) g[K t ] + (1 – sh(L)) g[L t ] while growth in per capita output is: (5) g[Y t /L t ] = g[A t ] + sh(K) (g[K t ] - g[L t ]) From this, we estimate the rate of TC as: (5) g[A t ] = g[Y t ] –{sh(K) g[K t ] + (1 – sh(L)) g[L t ]} Note that this is a very practical formula. All terms except h are observable. Can be used to understand the sources of growth in different times and places.

52 S ome applications 1. Clinton’s growth policy (see above) 2. U.S. growth since China in central planning and reform period 4. Soviet Union growth, The very rapid (measured) growth in the Soviet economy came primarily from growth in inputs, not from TFP growth. 5. Japanese growth, Japan had very large TFP growth after WWII. Wide variety of sources, including adoption of foreign 6. Supply-side economics (Reagan ; Bush II ) - To follow

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54 Source: Source: G. Chow, Accounting for Growth in Taiwan and Mainland China. Assumes Cobb-Douglas aggregate production function with elasticity of K = 0.4.

55 TFP, Soviet Union Source: William Easterly and Stanley Fischer,”The Soviet economic decline : historical and republican data,” World Bank Research Working Paper no. 1284, 1994.

56 Promoting Technological Change Much more difficult conceptually and for policy: -TC depends upon invention and innovation -Market failure: big gap between social MP and private MP of inventive activity -No formula for discovery analogous to increased saving Major instruments: -Intellectual property rights (create monopoly to reduce MP gap): patents, copyrights -Government subsidy of research (direct to Yale; indirect through R&D tax credit) -Rivalry but not perfect competition in markets (between Windows and Farmer Jones) -For open economy, openness to foreign technologies and management