Investment-specific technological change and the Brazilian macroeconomy

Abstract

This study discusses the importance of investment-specific technological change for the brazilian macroeconomy. We document evidence that a model that takes this specific type of technical progress into account is better suited to explain the Brazilian economy over the long term. We then present a DSGE [Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium] model with two sectors that incorporates technical progress in the investment goods sector and estimate the model for Brazil. The results demonstrate that productivity shocks in the investment goods sector are more volatile and persistent than in the final goods sector and that the output gap has a greater variance in the two-sector model. In addition, these results recommend a more rigorous monetary policy prescription to improve the economy’s well-being.