Translog Production Function
The translog production function can be expressed as:
π = π(π₯1, π₯2 β¦.. , π₯π)
Where,
Y: Output
πΌ0: Efficiency Parameter
πΌπ πππ π½ππ: πππππππ‘πππ (ππππππ€π)
π₯π: πΌπππ’π‘ π
Logarithm Form:
Taking log both sides, we obtain:
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The translog production function is a generalisation of the Cobb-Douglas production function. For π½ππ = 0, the log form of the translog function reduces to a Cobb-Douglas production function. It is linear in parameters, so it can be estimated using the least squares method.
Monotonicity and Translog Production Function:
The marginal product, i.e. addition to the total product due to the addition of one more factor, is-
πππ = βY/βxi = βlnY/βlnxi . π/π₯π
Where βlnY/βlnxi is the production elasticity which can be calculated from log form.
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βlnY/βlnxi =
- MP of xi can be positive for a range in values of xj but can be negative if π½ππ > 0
- (all i,j) and xj β 0. If there exists at least one π½ππ < 0, then πππ < 0 ππ xj β β. Thus, the translog function is not monotonic.
Are Isoquants under Translog Function Convex?
The isoquants are strictly quasi-convex if the Bordered Hessian matrix is negative definite. In order to construct a Bordered Hessian matrix, we need to derive second direct and cross-partial derivatives using the chain rule.
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Here the values of the first and second partial derivatives vary with input levels, and there is no guarantee that the isoquants are globally convex.
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