Estimates of Capital Stock by Industries for Austria*

Abstract

The present investigation is the first attempt to calculate gross capital stocks for 19 industries which together cover the whole Austrian economy. A production‐oriented concept of capital formed the basis of the investigation; the estimation procedure follows that of C. Almon et al. In contrast to the traditional perpetual‐inventory methods, Almon's modified estimation technique combines the advantages of differentiated cumulation containing a logistical retention function with relatively moderate requirements with respect to investment data. A thorough description of this estimation technique is given in the third section of the paper, combined with a number of comparative model calculations. These demonstrate very clearly that capital stock figures calculated according to the Almon method rarely deviate from those found with the help of the traditional inventory method, which requires considerably more information and uses more complicated calculation procedures. Finally, the sectorally disaggregated capital stock estimates calculated according to the Almon method are presented with some interpretative remarks.