Intermetropolitan Comparisons Of Production Function

Abstract

A nonhomogeneous production is used to study the features of the production technology across U.S. cities.  We compute marginal productivities and scale elasticities for different levels of inputs and outputs.  The form of the production function allows variable returns to scale.  We can also test the Cobb-Douglas and constant elasticity of substitution forms within the nonhomogeneous specification.  Conclusions are drawn concerning returns to scale across cities of different sizes.