A note on the effects of skill-biased technical change on productivity flattening

This paper examines the role of skill-biased technical change (SBTC) in the flattening of productivity growth and its effects on hours worked. We employ a structural macroeconometric analysis based on comprehensive micro data. The results show that 69 percent of the slowdown in productivity growth in Germany since the early 2000s can be explained by the flattening of SBTC. Furthermore, skill-biased technology shocks reduce hours, whereas skill-neutral technology shocks have a positive effect on hours in the long run.