Cost-Reducing Technologies and Labor Supply in a Krugman-type Model where Consumption is Time-Constrained: Some New Results

Abstract This study demonstrates why traditional “cost-saving” technical progress fails in an economy where consumption is time-constrained. In such a case, introducing “time-saving” technical progress establishes a new consumption-production equilibrium characterized by higher per-capita consumption and real income, lower prices, and, a higher scale of production for surviving producers. Nonetheless, since there is a limit to how much time can be saved by technological advances, the model also suggests an alternative solution in the form of a rising labor force (say via immigration) to close the production-consumption gap. This solution generates an unambiguous increase in welfare, vis-à-vis cost-reducing or time-saving technical progress.