<p>The elasticity of substitution of production factors derived from empirical data depends on the data. In the case of simple production, you can estimate the production function (fit your data to the functional form of the production function) and from it derive the elasticity of substitution and other functional parameters.
The elasticity of substitution in the case of a production function (accounting for output) has it's roots in the classical consumption function (accounting for utility), as you mention.
Empirical studies are plenty and the numerical results vary depending on country, industry (aggregate level) or type of company (micro level). However, the robustness of the results may not be up to par, because aggregate (and otherwise), especially neoclassical, production functions are subject to numerous restrictions and assumptions. 
For empirical studies you can start here <a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=573246" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Chirinko R., Fazzari S., Meyer A., 2004 </a></p>

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<p>In the case of utility (elasticity of substitution in consumption function), I don't know of any empirical studies. I'm not one to be asked this, but my first hunch is - additive utility is a REALLY strong assumption. Classical and austrian economists have argued that utility is subjective. So, numerical studies of elasticities of substitution in consumption would have to be verry biased.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-31T18:54:09.333Z
2018-01-31T19:50:16.770Z
2018-01-31T19:50:16.770Z
Rokis1990
<p>The consumption elasticity of substitution  (ES) is the ES between different consumption goods.</p>

<p>The production ES is the ES between factors of production.</p>

<p><strong>My question is: are there any serious empirical studies of the numerical values of these elasticities, and if so, where can I find them?</strong></p>

<elasticity-of-substitution>
Empirical measurements of consumption and production elasticity of substitution?
user56834
# Empirical measurements of consumption and production elasticity of substitution?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-01-27)

The consumption elasticity of substitution (ES) is the ES between different consumption goods.

The production ES is the ES between factors of production.

**My question is: are there any serious empirical studies of the numerical values of these elasticities, and if so, where can I find them?**

**Tags:** elasticity-of-substitution

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-01-31. Score: 2

The elasticity of substitution of production factors derived from empirical data depends on the data. In the case of simple production, you can estimate the production function (fit your data to the functional form of the production function) and from it derive the elasticity of substitution and other functional parameters.
The elasticity of substitution in the case of a production function (accounting for output) has it's roots in the classical consumption function (accounting for utility), as you mention.
Empirical studies are plenty and the numerical results vary depending on country, industry (aggregate level) or type of company (micro level). However, the robustness of the results may not be up to par, because aggregate (and otherwise), especially neoclassical, production functions are subject to numerous restrictions and assumptions.
For empirical studies you can start here [Chirinko R., Fazzari S., Meyer A., 2004](https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=573246)

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In the case of utility (elasticity of substitution in consumption function), I don't know of any empirical studies. I'm not one to be asked this, but my first hunch is - additive utility is a REALLY strong assumption. Classical and austrian economists have argued that utility is subjective. So, numerical studies of elasticities of substitution in consumption would have to be verry biased.


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