New construction versus maintenance and repair construction technology in the US since World War II

This paper employs seven input–output tables in the comparative study of long-term changes in new and maintenance and repair (M&R) construction technology in the US from 1947 to 1982. The 1982 table was made available in 1991. Input–output analysis is used to show the differences between direct and total input requirements of the two subsectors. Significant differences are reported in terms of backward linkage indicators and output multipliers, as well as direct and total requirements from the key industries supplying the two construction subsectors. As the share of M&R construction in total construction continues to increase, these differences in technology employed by the two subsectors will have an important effect on the national economy as a whole.