Measurement of IT Capital Stock and It's Impact: A Case Study of Japan for Further International Comparisons

In this paper, using an input-output table(I-O table) and other related macroeconomic statistics that are commonly available around the world, we present a method for creating time series data of investment in information technology(IT), and consequently, the IT capital stock. These IT-related data can support international comparisons of the economic impact of IT based on relevant macroeconomic statistics. We take Japan as a case to explain the actual procedures of handling statistics to create IT investment and capital stock data. Furthermore, we present applied research with growth accounting analysis that can be conducted using the Japanese economic data we collected. The results demonstrate the importance of the IT capital stock data in capturing the influence of technology on economic development in the midst of transformation from the Industrial Age to the Information Age.