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Public capital formation and labor productivity growth in Mexico

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  • Miguel Ramirez

Abstract

This paper addresses the important question whether public investment spending on economic infrastructure enhances economic growth and labor productivity in Mexico. Following the lead of the endogenous growth literature, it presents a modified production function which explicitly includes the positive or negative externality effects generated by additions to the public capital stock. Using cointegration analysis, the paper proceeds to estimate a dynamic labor productivity function for the 1955–94 period that incorporates the impact of the growth rate in the stocks of both private and public capital (as opposed to the flows) and the economically active population (EAP) (rather than the rate of population growth). The results suggest that (lagged) increases in public investment spending on economic infrastructure—as opposed to overall public investment spending—have a positive and highly significant effect on the rate of labor productivity growth. In addition, the estimates suggest that increases in government consumption expenditures may have a negative effect on the rate of labor productivity growth, thus suggesting that the composition of government spending may also play an important role in determining the rate of labor productivity growth. Finally, the findings call into question the politically expedient policy in many Latin American countries of disproportionately reducing public capital expenditures on economic and social infrastructure to meet targeted reductions in the fiscal deficit as a proportion of GDP. Copyright International Atlantic Economic Society 2002

Suggested Citation

  • Miguel Ramirez, 2002. "Public capital formation and labor productivity growth in Mexico," Atlantic Economic Journal, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 30(4), pages 366-379, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:atlecj:v:30:y:2002:i:4:p:366-379
    DOI: 10.1007/BF02298779
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Miguel D. Ramirez, 2020. "Public and Foreign Investment Spending in the Argentine Case. A Cointegration Analysis with Structural Breaks, 1960-2015," Bulletin of Applied Economics, Risk Market Journals, vol. 7(2), pages 49-76.
    2. Miguel D Ramirez, 2016. "The IMF and Global Financial Crises: Phoenix Rising?," Eastern Economic Journal, Palgrave Macmillan;Eastern Economic Association, vol. 42(4), pages 676-678, September.
    3. Miguel Ramirez, 2007. "A Panel Unit Root and Panel Cointegration Test of the Complementarity Hypothesis in the Mexican Case: 1960–2001," Atlantic Economic Journal, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 35(3), pages 343-356, September.
    4. Fedderke, J.W. & Bogetic, Z., 2009. "Infrastructure and Growth in South Africa: Direct and Indirect Productivity Impacts of 19 Infrastructure Measures," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 37(9), pages 1522-1539, September.
    5. Melvin Ayogu, 0. "Infrastructure and Economic Development in Africa: A Review-super- †," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 16(suppl_1), pages -126.
    6. Ramirez, Miguel D., 2008. "Are Foreign and Public Capital Productive in the Mexican Case? A Panel Unit Root and Panel Cointegration Analysis," Working Papers 49, Yale University, Department of Economics.
    7. Ramirez, M.D., 2009. "Public Capital Formation and Labor Productivity Growth in Argentina," Applied Econometrics and International Development, Euro-American Association of Economic Development, vol. 9(1).
    8. Jorge Eduardo Mendoza Cota, 2021. "Productividad laboral regional en el sector manufacturero de Mexico, 2007-2016," Revista de Estudios Regionales, Universidades Públicas de Andalucía, vol. 2, pages 15-41.
    9. Ibrahim B. Kamara, 2007. "The Direct Productivity Impact of Infrastructure Investment: Dynamic Panel Data Evidence From Sub Saharan Africa," Working Papers 048, Economic Research Southern Africa.
    10. Zhang, Yumei & Wang, Xinxin & Chen, Kevin, 2012. "Growth and Distributive Effects of Public Infrastructure Investments in China," Conference papers 332234, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.
    11. Miguel Ramirez, 2008. "What explains Latin America's poor investment performance during the 1980-2001 period?: a panel unit root analysis," International Review of Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(1), pages 1-15.

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