The Aggregate Production Function and Solow's "Three Denials"

This paper offers a retrospective view of the key pillar of Solow’s neoclassical growth model, namely the aggregate production function. We review how this tool came to life and how it has survived until today, despite three criticisms that undermined its raison d’être. They are the Cambridge Capita...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Felipe, Jesus, McCombie, John
Format: text
Published: Animo Repository 2024
Subjects:
Online Access:https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/res_aki/193
https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/res_aki/article/1196/viewcontent/DLSU_AKI_Working_Paper_Series_2024_03_092.pdf
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Institution: De La Salle University
Description
Summary:This paper offers a retrospective view of the key pillar of Solow’s neoclassical growth model, namely the aggregate production function. We review how this tool came to life and how it has survived until today, despite three criticisms that undermined its raison d’être. They are the Cambridge Capital Theory Controversies, the Aggregation Problem, and the Accounting Identity. These criticisms were forgotten by the profession, not because they were wrong but because of the key role played by Robert Solow in the field. Today, these criticisms are not even mentioned when students are introduced to (neoclassical) growth theory, which is presented in most economics departments and macroeconomics textbooks as the only theory worth studying.