A nonparametric panel data approach to the cyclical dynamics of price-cost margins

By using nonparametric and panel data econometrics, this paper re-assesses the effect of both the current level of economic activity and of future expected demand on the dynamics of the price mark-up over marginal cost in US manufacturing industries from 1958 to 1996. Consistently with previous results, the current level of economic activity has a negative impact on the mark-up and expectations of future demand a positive one. Differences between consumer and producer goods and between more and less competitive sectors play a minor role. Differences between durable and nondurable goods, instead, find more empirical support.