<p>The <a href="http://cid.econ.ucdavis.edu/pwt.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Penn Wolrd Tables</a> have the data you need.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-08T23:23:03.707Z
so I downloaded it from here and read through the manual https://www.rug.nl/ggdc/productivity/pwt/ so for L I would then take the data for emp (employed people) but since there is a high autocorrelation in there wouldnt that be a problem for the estimations further? Same for capital instead of me constructing the aggregate capital data can't I just take the column rkna (Capital stock at constant 2011 national prices (in mil. 2011US$), but again there is high autocorrelation involved, sorry if my questions are very beginnerish.
macro123
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-08T23:42:19.027Z
@macro123 Your questions are to the point. But estimation in an autocorrelation framework is nothing new, you just have to read the relevant time-series econometric literature on how to handle it.
Alecos Papadopoulos
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-08T22:43:21.537Z
2018-02-08T22:43:21.537Z
Alecos Papadopoulos
<p>So I am currently trying to write a paper estimating the Constant Elasticity of Substitution Production Function of the USA. I am using the simple version with two inputs capital and labour. Since the estimation is at the aggregate level I thought of using the perpetual inventory method to create the data for aggregate capital, but I wasnt sure what kind of data I need for aggregate labour. Maybe the number of employed people, work force, in the USA? I'd be glad if someone could help me out.</p>

<econometrics><data-request><production-function><usa><ces-function>
Choosing Data for CES Production Function
macro123
# Choosing Data for CES Production Function

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-02-08)

So I am currently trying to write a paper estimating the Constant Elasticity of Substitution Production Function of the USA. I am using the simple version with two inputs capital and labour. Since the estimation is at the aggregate level I thought of using the perpetual inventory method to create the data for aggregate capital, but I wasnt sure what kind of data I need for aggregate labour. Maybe the number of employed people, work force, in the USA? I'd be glad if someone could help me out.

**Tags:** econometrics, data-request, production-function, usa, ces-function


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-02-08. Score: 2

The [Penn Wolrd Tables](http://cid.econ.ucdavis.edu/pwt.html) have the data you need.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: so I downloaded it from here and read through the manual https://www.rug.nl/ggdc/productivity/pwt/ so for L I would then take the data for emp (employed people) but since there is a high autocorrelation in there wouldnt that be a problem for the estimations further? Same for capital instead of me constructing the aggregate capital data can't I just take the column rkna (Capital stock at constant 2011 national prices (in mil. 2011US$), but again there is high autocorrelation involved, sorry if my questions are very beginnerish.  
> **username_1**: @username_0 Your questions are to the point. But estimation in an autocorrelation framework is nothing new, you just have to read the relevant time-series econometric literature on how to handle it.  

---

