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American Economic Review: Vol. 93 No. 4 (September 2003)

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Technological Change and the Stock Market

Article Citation

Laitner, John, and Dmitriy Stolyarov. 2003. "Technological Change and the Stock Market." The American Economic Review, 93(4): 1240-1267.

DOI: 10.1257/000282803769206287

Abstract

Tobin's average q has usually been well above 1, but fell below 1 during 1974-1984. Our model explains this pattern and reconciles it with unchanging aggregate investment. The stock market value in the numerator of q reflects ownership of physical capital and knowledge, but the denominator measures just physical capital. Therefore, q is usually above 1. Periodic arrivals of important new technologies, such as the microprocessor in the 1970's, suddenly render old knowledge and capital obsolete, causing the stock market to drop. National accounts measures of physical capital miss this rapid obsolescence. Then q appears to drop below 1. (JEL E44, O3, O41)

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Authors

Laitner, John
Stolyarov, Dmitriy


American Economic Review



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