The Sources of Change in Canadian Industry Output

Abstract

Canadian input–output tables for 1961, 1971, 1976, and 1981 are used to apply the techniques of Feldman et al., (1987) to decompose the sources of change in Canadian industrial output. The results of the decompositions are in general agreement with the finding by Feldman et al., that, while changes in output levels may be attributed primarily to changing final demands, technical coefficient effects are relatively more important among the fastest growing and declining industries. For Canada, however, technical coefficient effects are generally more important in the declining industries, and less so for the fastest growing industries. Furthermore, technical coefficient effects have become relatively more important in a greater number of industries over time, especially among industries in which output levels have been falling. The results also suggest that the combined bridge and technical coeficient effect overstates the actual effect of shifts in the structure of industry production. When bridge coefficient effects are separated from the technical coefficient effects and included in total final demand effects, the results provide additional evidence that final demand continues to be the major source of both absolute and relative rates of output growth for the majority of Canadian industries.