Economies of scale in the Tunisian industries

Arbeitspapier

To date, empirical investigations of trade liberalization under the conditions of increasing returns to scale (IRS) and imperfect competition (IC) have either assumed or imposed the market and productive structures necessary for such a model. However, of the recent IRS/IC models used to simulate the effects of trade liberalization none have empirically tested for the presence of increasing return to scale prior to the analysis. With Tunisian data (1971-2004) and rigorous test procedures, we investigate evidence of IRS at the industry level. Using an econometric approach based on the estimation of the translog cost function and its associated cost share equations, we identify the sectors characterized by increasing returns to scale. Analysis of the results shows that specification of the model is sensitive to inclusion of time trend representing technology. The model accounting for technology did not fit the data well for most sectors. The estimation results without time trend interactions are different. Here most of the sectors show signs of increasing returns to scale.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: IZA Discussion Papers ; No. 5737

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models: Time-Series Models; Dynamic Quantile Regressions; Dynamic Treatment Effect Models; Diffusion Processes; State Space Models ; Model Evaluation, Validation, and Selection ; Production; Cost; Capital; Capital, Total Factor, and Multifactor Productivity; Capacity ; Models of Trade with Imperfect Competition and Scale Economies; Fragmentation ; Industrial Organization: General
• Subject: economies of scale ; trade liberalization ; new trade theory ; Tunisian industries ; cost functions

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Heshmati, Almas ; Haouas, Ilham
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA)
• (where): Bonn
• (when): 2011

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/52005
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-201106013832
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:44 AM CET