ECONOMETRIC studies of production at the aggregate and semiaggregate levels have concentrated largely on the relation between capital and labor inputs, on the one hand, and some measure of real gross value added on the other. Studies that have gone beyond this scope to include a larger number of inputs have been confined to a highly restrictive class of production functions. Input-output studies using fixed production coefficients and studies in the agricultural field using CobbDouglas functions fall within this category.' A growing number of important economic questions, however, cannot be answered within the traditional models, but require instead a framework that allows a richer specification of the substitution possibilities among factors of production. The question of whether there are differences in the extent of substitutability or complementarity between capital and different skill categories of labor, which has been considered by Bowles [4], Cook [6], and Griliches [8], is one example where a more general production model is required. In addition, it is likely that the estimation of production parameters, in particular the elasticity of substitution (ES) between capital and labor, is biased when factors other than capital and labor are ignored. This paper presents the results of an econometric investigation of these problems using time-series data for Swedish manufacturing for the period 1870-1950. Section II presents some simple evidence that shows the extent of variation in factor output ratios in the data. Variation in these ratios is not consistent with the conditions under which the use of a valueadded production function can be justified. Section III then presents a general production model that allows the measurement of the price responsiveness of factor utilization, and section IV discusses the results of estimating the model. Finally, in section V the results of the general model are compared with the results obtained using the alternative gross value added framework and using direct production functions.

The paper develops a natural measure of the amount of relative price variability. The variance of relative price change is shown to be correlated with the rate of change in the price level using data for consumer goods in both the Netherlands and the United States. This association has been noted in other data for a variety of countries. Using a multisectoral supply-and-demand framework, the paper goes on to show how changes in relative prices and ultimately the variance of relative price changes are related to supply conditions changes in real income and the amount of unanticipated inflation. The model is used as the basis for an analysis of movements in the prices of consumer goods in the United States for the period 1929-75. The amount of unanticipated inflation (measured as the difference between the actual rate and a time-series predictor) is a more important determinant of relative price variability than the rate of inflation.

This paper shows that the sharp narrowing with maturity of the spread between taxable and tax‐exempt yields leaves room for tax arbitrage. At times, tax‐exempt forward rates have exceeded taxable forward rates. At such times, only expectations of higher taxes on Treasury than on municipal bonds would eliminate profit opportunities. The authors develop the idea of forward tax rates and compute forward tax rates for 1955 through 1984. They also outline tax‐arbitrage mechanisms involving private forward sale of long municipal bonds or the use of the Municipal Bond Futures Contract and show the potential profits.