Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2017

DOI

10.3868/s060-006-017-0027-5

Publication Title

Frontiers of Economics in China

Volume

12

Issue

4

Pages

660-676

Abstract

We study firm heterogeneity in economic development in an overlapping-generations general equilibrium model in which manufacturing firms engage in oligopolistic competition. Individuals differ in their productivities in the manufacturing sector and choose to become entrepreneurs or workers. The model is surprisingly tractable. In the steady state, an increase in the entry barrier in the manufacturing sector or an increase in the percentage of income spent on the agricultural good decreases the wage rate, but the level of output in the manufacturing sector does not necessarily decrease. An increase in the degree of patience of an individual increases the steady state wage rate and the capital stock. Even with increasing returns in manufacturing and constant returns in agriculture, neither the wage rate nor the output level in the manufacturing sector may increase with population size.

Rights

© 2017 Higher Education Press. All rights reserved.

Included with the kind written permission of the publisher.

Original Publication Citation

Chen, Y., & Zhou, H. (2017). An overlapping-generations model of firm heterogeneity in economic development. Frontiers of Economics in China, 12(4), 660-676. https://doi.org/10.3868/s060-006-017-0027-5

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