Análisis económico de la tecnología del sector manufacturero argentino

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to explore the existing input substitution possibilities in the manufacturing sector of Argentine from 1950 to 1973 and to examine returns to scale and separability of variables that characterizes the subyacent technology. To obtain those results the dual approach is used with a translog cost function associated with side order conditions under the assumption of a reasonable competition in the factor markets. The main results shows that production technology is nonhomothetic, inputs are not separable, diseconomies of scale prevails and finally, there are rather limited substitution possibilities due to low positive Allen Uzawa elasticities of substitution between labor, capital and materials.