Abstract
Utilization of capital can take place through variations in the duration of working time, given intensity, or through variations in the intensity of working time, given duration, or both. This article focuses on the economic factors determining duration and discusses the issues affecting and affected by variations in intensity. The latter can take the form of variations in speed or in the use of inputs that are complements to capital relative to some maximum or optimum. We provide a historical perspective, discuss modern theory, its main applications and links to the issues of speed and capacity, and identify important implications.
This chapter was originally published in The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics, 2nd edition, 2008. Edited by Steven N. Durlauf and Lawrence E. Blume
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Betancourt, R. (2008). Capital Utilization. In: The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-95121-5_201-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-95121-5_201-2
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Online ISBN: 978-1-349-95121-5
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Chapter history
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Latest
Capital Utilization- Published:
- 20 March 2017
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-95121-5_201-2
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Original
Capital Utilization- Published:
- 12 October 2016
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-95121-5_201-1