2134/21949 Thomas Triebs Thomas Triebs David Saal David Saal Pablo Arocena Pablo Arocena Subal C. Kumbhakar Subal C. Kumbhakar Estimating economies of scale and scope with flexible technology Loughborough University 2016 Economies of scale and scope Flexible technology Electric utilities Vertical integration Translog cost function Economics not elsewhere classified 2016-07-11 12:12:26 Journal contribution https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/journal_contribution/Estimating_economies_of_scale_and_scope_with_flexible_technology/9494048 Economies of scope are typically modelled and estimated using a cost function that is common to all firms in an industry irrespective of their type, e.g. whether they specialize in a single output or produce multiple outputs. Instead, we estimate a flexible technology model that allows for type-specific technologies and show how it can be estimated using linear parametric forms including the translog. A common technology remains a special case of our model and is testable econometrically. Our sample, of publicly owned US electric utilities, does not support a common technology for integrated and specialized firms. Our empirical results therefore suggest that assuming a common technology might bias estimates of economies of scale and scope. Thus, how we model the production technology clearly influences the policy conclusions we draw from its characteristics.