Suchergebnisse

We review the empirical literature about the implications of the
computerization of the labor market to see whether it can explain observed
computer adoption patterns and (long-term) changes in the wage
structure. Evidence from empirical micro-economic studies turns out
to be inconsistent with macro-economic studies that are based on Constant
Elasticity of Substitution (CES) production functions. We propose
a micro-economic foundation for the CES production function
that allows for changes in the underlying structure. We adapt the
macro-economic model by incorporating computer skills, complementary
skills, and fixed costs for computer technology usage suggested by
the micro-economics literature. It turns out that fixed costs for computer
technology usage explain different patterns of computer adoption
and diffusion between several types of workers and countries; they also
provide very plausible patterns of the timing of wage inequality and
technological developments over time.