Technical change and the von Neumann coefficient of uniform expansion

Abstract

We study technical change for multi-product technologies to examine its effect on economic growth for 27 OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries during 1951–2014. We review the Malmquist index and reexamine von Neumann’s model of an expanding economy. We estimate the coefficient of uniform expansion via DEA (Data Envelopment Analysis) and use it to measure technical change via a Solow residual and an alternative von Neumann technical change index which equals the difference between the growth rates of the slowest growing output and the fastest growing input. We also exploit a property of constant returns to scale in order to examine technical change of the average technology. During 2005–2014 the Solow residual shows relatively fast technical change. In contrast, the Malmquist, average technology and alternative von Neumann technical change indexes show negative or stagnant technical change.