Outsourcing and technological change
By: Ann Bartel, Saul Lach, Nachum Sicherman.
Contributors: Lach, Saul.; Sicherman, Nachum.; National Bureau of Economic Research.
Series: NBER working paper series ;; working paper 11158; Working paper series (National Bureau of Economic Research : Online) ;; working paper no. 11158.
Publisher: National Bureau of Economic Research
Published: 2005
Place of publication: Cambridge, MA
Language: eng
Format: Electronic resource
Subjects: Contracting out.; Information technology -- Economic aspects.; Technological innovations -- Economic aspects.
Description: "In this paper we argue that an important source of the recent increase in outsourcing is the computer and information technology revolution, characterized by increased rates of technological change.  Our model shows that an increase in the pace of technological change increases outsourcing because it allows firms to use services based on leading edge technologies without incurring the sunk costs of adopting these new technologies.  In addition, firms using more IT-intensive technologies face lower outsourcing costs of IT-based services generating a positive correlation between the IT level of the user and its outsourcing share of IT-based services.  This implication is verified in the data"--National Bureau of Economic Research web site.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references.
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