Technological change and productivity in the UK food, drink and tobacco industries : a translog cost function approach

Analyses the production function of the UK manufacturing industries by estimating a translog cost function for the period 1955‐1981. Aims to estimate technical change parametrically. Among the conclusions arising from this estimate are: that indications are that technological change is input biased in the food, drink and tobacco industries; and that these industries seem to have experienced deterioration in scale economies during the 1970s. Also finds that energy and capital inputs are complementary. This supports the argument that reductions in energy price will be accompanied by higher levels of investment.