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Capital formation and productivity growth in South Korea and Taiwan: realising the catch-up potential in a world diminishing returns

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  • Timmer, Marcel
  • Ark, Bart van

    (Groningen University)

Abstract

In this paper we reconstruct the non-residential capital stock of South Korea and Taiwan based on long-term series of investment in non-residential buildings and machinery and equipment. Secondly, we looked at the impact of capital input measures, using a stock as a well a flow measure of capital, on total factor productivity growth. Finally, to assess the potential for continued catch-up of the emerging economies towards productivity levels of the more advanced countries, we analyse capital-output ratios and the change in comparative levels of capital intensity and labour productivity. For both countries we find a rapid growth of the capital stock for the total economy and for manufacturing, with growth rates that peaked between the mid-1960s and the mid-1980s. In particular with capital inputs measured in terms of service flows, total factor productivity growth is low up to the mid 1980s. Since then TFP growth slightly improved which is related to the slowdown of labour input growth. Capital-output ratios continued to rise for the total economy. For manufacturing we found a strong rise in capital-output ratios in particular since the 1980s. In terms of comparative levels, there are still large gaps between the two East Asian countries and the USA in terms of capital-labour ratios and labour productivity. This indicates that despite the diminishing returns to capital goods, especially in manufacturing, opportunities for further growth on basis of accumulation are still far from exhausted. This remaining catch-up potential ought to be realised by complementing capital accumulation with productivity growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Timmer, Marcel & Ark, Bart van, 2000. "Capital formation and productivity growth in South Korea and Taiwan: realising the catch-up potential in a world diminishing returns," CCSO Working Papers 200003, University of Groningen, CCSO Centre for Economic Research.
  • Handle: RePEc:gro:rugccs:200003
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    2. Robert Allen & Robert C. Allen, 2011. "Technology and the Great Divergence," Economics Series Working Papers 548, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
    3. Kang-Kook Lee & James Crotty, 2004. "Was the IMF's Imposition of Economic Regime Change Justified? A Critique of the IMF's Economic and Political Role in Korea During and After the Crisis," Working Papers wp77, Political Economy Research Institute, University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
    4. Li-Hsuan Huang & Hsin-Yi Huang, 2017. "Real Wage Stagnancy: Evidence From Taiwan," The Singapore Economic Review (SER), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 65(02), pages 485-506, April.
    5. James B. Ang & Jakob B. Madsen, 2013. "International R&D Spillovers And Productivity Trends In The Asian Miracle Economies," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 51(2), pages 1523-1541, April.
    6. Godo, Yoshihisa, 2012. "A New Database on Education Stock in Taiwan," CEI Working Paper Series 2011-12, Center for Economic Institutions, Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University.
    7. Godo, Yoshihisa, 2012. "A New Database on Education Stock in Taiwan," PRIMCED Discussion Paper Series 20, Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University.
    8. Allen, Robert C., 2012. "Technology and the great divergence: Global economic development since 1820," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 49(1), pages 1-16.

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