Constant elasticity of substitution

In economics, Constant elasticity of substitution (CES) is a property of some production functions and utility functions.

More precisely, it refers to a particular type of aggregator function which combines two or more types of consumption, or two or more types of productive inputs into an aggregate quantity. This aggregator function exhibits constant elasticity of substitution.

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CES production function

The CES production function is a type of production function that displays constant elasticity of substitution. In other words, the production technology has a constant percentage change in factor (e.g. labour and capital) proportions due to a percentage change in marginal rate of technical substitution. The two factor (Capital, Labor) CES production function introduced by Solow [1] and later made popular by Arrow, Chenery, Minhas, and Solow is:[2][3][4]

Q = F \cdot \left(a \cdot K^r%2B(1-a) \cdot L^r\right)^{\frac{1}{r}}

where

As its name suggests, the CES production function exhibits constant elasticity of substitution between capital and labor. Leontief, linear and Cobb-Douglas production functions are special cases of the CES production function. That is, in the limit as s approaches 1, we get the Cobb-Douglas function; as s approaches positive infinity we get the linear (perfect substitutes) function; and for s approaching 0, we get the Leontief (perfect complements) function. The general form of the CES production function is:

Q = F \cdot \left[\sum_{i=1}^n a_{i}^{\frac{1}{s}}X_{i}^{\frac{(s-1)}{s}}\ \right]^{\frac{s}{(s-1)}}

where

Extending the CES (Solow) form to accommodate multiple factors of production creates some problems, however. There is no completely general way to do this. Uzawa [5] showed the only possible n-factor production functions (n>2) with constant partial elasticities of substitution require either that all elasticities between pairs of factors be identical, or if any differ, these all must equal each other and all remaining elasticities must be unity. This is true for any production function. This means the use of the CES form for more than 2 factors will generally mean that there is not constant elasticity of substitution among all factors.

Nested CES functions are commonly found in partial/general equilibrium models. Different nests (levels) allow for the introduction of the appropriate elasticity of substitution.

The CES is a neoclassical production function.

CES utility function

See also: Isoelastic utility

The same functional form arises as a utility function in consumer theory. For example, if there exist n types of consumption goods c_i, then aggregate consumption C could be defined using the CES aggregator:

C = \left[\sum_{i=1}^n a_{i}^{\frac{1}{s}}c_{i}^{\frac{(s-1)}{s}}\ \right]^{\frac{s}{(s-1)}}

Here again, the coefficients a_i are share parameters, and s is the elasticity of substitution. Therefore the consumption goods c_i are perfect substitutes when s approaches infinity and perfect complements when s approaches zero. The CES aggregator is also sometimes called the Armington aggregator, which was discussed by Armington (1969).[6]

A CES utility function is one of the cases considered by Avinash Dixit and Joseph Stiglitz in their study of optimal product diversity in a context of monopolistic competition.[7]

References

  1. ^ Solow, R.M (1956). "A contribution to the theory of economic growth". The Quarterly Journal of Economics 70: 65–94. 
  2. ^ Arrow, K. J.; Chenery, H. B.; Minhas, B. S.; Solow, R. M. (1961). "Capital-labor substitution and economic efficiency". Review of Economics and Statistics (The MIT Press) 43 (3): 225–250. doi:10.2307/1927286. JSTOR 1927286. 
  3. ^ Jorgensen, Dale W. (2000). Econometrics, vol. 1: Econometric Modelling of Producer Behavior. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. p. 2. ISBN 0262100827. 
  4. ^ Klump, R; McAdam, P; Willman, A. (2007). "Factor Substitution and Factor Augmenting Technical Progress in the US: A Normalized Supply-Side System Approach". Review of Economics and Statistics (The MIT Press) 89 (1): 183–192. 
  5. ^ Uzawa, H (1962). "Production functions with constant elasticities of substitution". Review of Economic Studies 9: 291–299. 
  6. ^ Armington, P. S. (1969). "A theory of demand for products distinguished by place of production". IMF Staff Papers 16: 159–178. 
  7. ^ Dixit, Avinash; Stiglitz, Joseph (1977). "Monopolistic Competition and Optimum Product Diversity". American Economic Review (American Economic Association) 67 (3): 297–308. JSTOR 1831401. 

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