Technology choice: the output and employment tradeoff.

Suppose, unlike the endogenous growth literature, that technological innovation may actually create structural problems. If capital and labor inputs of specific skill levels are complementary, and new technology changes the skill mix needs, then this mismatch may create underemployment or unemploym...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:American Journal of Economics & Sociology Vol. 57; pp. 27 - 47
Autores principales: Goldberg, Kalman, Highfill, Jannett, McAsey, Michael
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Wiley-Blackwell January 1998
Materias:
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
Descripción
Sumario:Suppose, unlike the endogenous growth literature, that technological innovation may actually create structural problems. If capital and labor inputs of specific skill levels are complementary, and new technology changes the skill mix needs, then this mismatch may create underemployment or unemployment. High-tech investment maximizes output but at the expense of unemployment of unskilled workers; lower-tech investment results in smaller unskilled labor unemployment, but a smaller increase in output (or underemployment of skilled labor). A policy solution for this tradeoff is to allocate investment between physical capital and human capital in the right proportions to ensure both maximum output and full employment. Reprinted by permission of the publisher.