Norris Keiller, de Paula, and Van Reenen (2024) (NPR) propose estimating production functions using firms' subjective expectations of future output and inputs, data which are becoming increasingly available in surveys. This note compares their proposed estimator to traditional dynamic panel data (e.g., Blundell and Bond 2000) and proxy variable methods (e.g., Olley and Pakes 1996). While NPR allows for nonlinear productivity processes, we discuss commonalities with the former when those processes are linear. We note that NPR may be more robust to oligopolistic competition than the latter since it does not employ input demand relations to proxy for productivity.
Bond et al. (Fri,) studied this question.
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