Publications [#266252] of Wilbur J. Coleman

Papers Published

1. Caselli, F; Coleman, WJ, The world technology frontier, American Economic Review, vol. 96 no. 3 (August, 2006), pp. 499-522, American Economic Association, ISSN 0002-8282 [doi]
   (last updated on 2026/01/16)

   Abstract:
   We study cross-country differences in the aggregate production function when skilled and unskilled labor are imperfect substitutes. We find that there is a skill bias in cross-country technology differences. Higher-income countries use skilled labor more efficiently than lower-income countries, while they use unskilled labor relatively and, possibly, absolutely less efficiently. We also propose a simple explanation for our findings: rich countries, which are skilled-labor abundant, choose technologies that are best suited to skilled workers; poor countries, which are unskilled-labor abundant, choose technologies more appropriate to unskilled workers. We discuss alternative explanations, such as capital-skill complementarity and differences in schooling quality.