The construction sector is one of the most important sectors for economic development due, among other reasons, to the productive chains that it generates. This paper presents an analysis of the determinants of the total factor productivity (TFP) in the Ecuadorian construction sector during the period 2007–2018. In the first stage, we estimate a production function using the Wooldridge (Economics Letters, 2009, 104, 112–114) estimator to correct the simultaneous determination of inputs and firm unobserved productivity. In the second stage, we analyze the main determinants of TFP. These determinants are classified into four groups: internal, international trade, financial constraints, and external characteristics. Our results suggest that firm age is positively related with TFP but negatively related with TFP growth. Similarly, the fact of being a family firm is negatively related with TFP, but size is positively related with TFP and its growth across the construction subsectors. In addition, we find that access to debt and credit is positively related with productivity, but less-competitive environment is negatively related with productivity. Finally, our results suggest that TFP and its growth are pro-cyclical with respect to the gross domestic product. Our results have several managerial implications that are discussed in this article.

中文翻译：

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新兴国家建筑业生产力的决定因素：来自厄瓜多尔公司的新证据

建筑行业是经济发展最重要的行业之一，除其他原因外，由于其产生的生产链。本文分析了 2007-2018 年期间厄瓜多尔建筑业全要素生产率 (TFP) 的决定因素。在第一阶段，我们使用 Wooldridge 估计生产函数（经济学快报， 2009 年，104, 112–114) 估计器来纠正同时确定的投入和企业未观察到的生产力。在第二阶段，我们分析了 TFP 的主要决定因素。这些决定因素分为四组：内部、国际贸易、金融约束和外部特征。我们的研究结果表明，企业年龄与 TFP 呈正相关，但与 TFP 增长呈负相关。同样，作为家族企业的事实与 TFP 呈负相关，但规模与 TFP 及其在整个建筑子行业的增长呈正相关。此外，我们发现获得债务和信贷与生产力正相关，但竞争力较弱的环境与生产力负相关。最后，我们的结果表明，TFP 及其增长相对于国内生产总值是顺周期的。