Using data on the prices of capital goods, this paper shows that much
of the benefit of investment tax incentives does not go to Investing f
irms but rather to capital suppliers through higher prices. A 10 perce
nt investment tax credit increases equipment prices 3.5-7.0 percent. T
his lasts several years and is largest for assets with large order bac
klogs or low import competition. Capital goods workers' wages rise, to
o. Instrumental variables estimates of the short-run supply elasticity
are around 1 and can explain the traditionally small estimates of inv
estment demand elasticities. In absolute value, the demand elasticity
implied here exceeds 1.