Convergence or divergence in cross-country growth?

Dobson, Stephen; Ramlogan-Dobson, Carlyn; Strobl, Eric

Abstract

In the traditional empirical convergence literature, a negative coefficient on initial income in a cross-country growth regression is interpreted as evidence of poor countries growing faster than richer ones. A key assumption in this work is that the relationship between initial income and income growth is linear. The linearity assumption is challenged in some new growth theories, and studies adopting an alternative (semi-parametric or nonlinear) econometric methodology provide support for a nonlinear specification. This paper finds evidence for nonlinear convergence. Using semi-parametric estimation we find that convergence occurs among countries with very low and very high initial incomes, suggesting that convergence clubs characterize the cross-country growth process. Our results provide further evidence for multiple-regime steady states. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Citation

Dobson, S., Ramlogan-Dobson, C., & Strobl, E. (2012). Convergence or divergence in cross-country growth?. International review of applied economics, 26(3), 417-424. https://doi.org/10.1080/02692171.2011.557058

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 17, 2010
• Online Publication Date: May 9, 2011
• Publication Date: May 1, 2012
• Deposit Date: May 9, 2022
• Journal: International Review of Applied Economics
• Print ISSN: 0269-2171
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 26
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 417-424
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02692171.2011.557058
• Keywords: Convergence clubs; Convergence hypothesis; Nonlinear convergence; Semi-parametric kernel regression
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/530230