The recent empirical literature that uses Structural Vector Autoregressions (SVAR) has shown that productivity shocks identified using long--run restrictions lead to a persistent and significant decline in hours worked. This evidence calls into question standard RBC models in which a positive...

Structural Vector Autoregressions with a differenced specification of hours (DSVAR) suggest that productivity shocks identified using long--run restrictions lead to a persistent and significant decline in hours worked. This evidence calls into question standard business cycle models in which a...

This paper questions Galí [1999]?'s empirical methodology that aims to evaluate the effects of technology shocks. We show that specification error can be large enough to reverse the sign of hours worked?' response. An applied researcher using this methodology might mistakingly conclude that...

We use Structural Vector Autoregressions to study the impact of technology improvements on hours worked in the major seven countries. While previous studies estimate the response of labor input to permanent shocks to country -level labor productivity, we consider the response of labor input to...