Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2014
DOI
10.3868/s060-003-014-0012-1
Publication Title
Frontiers of Economics of China
Volume
9
Issue
2
Pages
216-236
Abstract
Is the degree of external economies (at the industry level) higher than the degree of internal increasing returns (at the firm level)? If so, what is the exact source of this difference? In the general equilibrium model in which firms producing final goods choose the degree of specialization of their technologies, external economies arise from the usage of intermediate inputs and the existence of internal increasing returns. It is frequently assumed that increasing returns are absent at the firm level while present at the industry level. In this model, the existence of increasing returns at the firm level is necessary for the existence of external economies at the industry level. We show that the degree of external economies increases with the level of linkage effects. However, a higher linkage effect does not always lead firms to choose more specialized technologies.
Rights
© 2014 Higher Education Press and Brill
Included with the kind written permission of the publishers.
Original Publication Citation
Zhou, H. (2014). Intermediate inputs and external economies. Frontiers of Economics in China, 9(2), 216-239. https://doi.org/10.3868/s060-003-014-0012-1
Repository Citation
Zhou, Haiwen, "Intermediate Inputs and External Economies" (2014). Economics Faculty Publications. 63.
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/economics_facpubs/63