Patterns of Technical Change for Colombia in the Twenty-First Century: A Sectoral Approach

Abstract

Following a classical Marxian framework, this article identifies the patterns of technical change in the Colombian economy, disaggregated by sectors, from 2001 to 2022. Using the growth-distribution schedule and data from national accounts, a clear Marx-biased technical pattern (labor-saving and capital-using) was identified for the Colombian economy as a whole and five of its nine economic sectors between 2001 and 2022. Two sectors presented the input-saving pattern with increased capital intensity and the remaining two sectors, technical regressions with increased capital intensity. All sectors exhibited an upward trend in their capital/labor ratios. Considering the business cycle, two stages in technological change were also identified: 2001–2007 and 2008–2019. The dominant pattern for the Colombian economy was Harrod-neutral in the first period and Marx-biased in the second.

JEL Classification: E11, O33, O40