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The Channels of Economic Growth: A Channel Decomposition Exercise

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Wei-Kang WONG ()

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Abstract

This paper formally introduces channel decomposition, a method that systematically decomposes the channels through which the determinants of growth operate, into the analysis of economic growth. Under channel decomposition, the determinants could affect economic growth through physical capital accumulation, through human capital acquisition, and/or through growth in total factor productivity. Thus, by examining the outcomes of the decomposition, we can test alternative models, as different models often imply different channels of operation for the determinants. Methodologically, channel decomposition combines growth accounting with regression analysis, rather than regarding them as alternative approaches. With this method, it becomes clear that technological catch-up, not factor accumulation, accounts for the widely documented phenomenon of conditional convergence. This finding turns out to be extremely robust. In effect, this finding puts the final nails in the coffin of the Neoclassical growth model, as the model can neither explain cross-country growth, nor can it explain conditional convergence. The method also shows that both rich and poor countries converge mainly through technological catch-up, although richer countries converge much faster than the poor.

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Paper provided by National University of Singapore, Department of Economics in its series Departmental Working Papers with number wp0101.

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Length: 39 pages
Date of creation: Oct 2001
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Handle: RePEc:nus:nusewp:wp0101

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
O33 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Technological Change - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
O40 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - General

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Cited by:
(explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)

  1. Wei-Kang WONG, 2001. "How Good Are Embodied And Disembodied Idea Flows In Bridging Income Gaps And Idea Gaps?," Departmental Working Papers wp0102, National University of Singapore, Department of Economics. [Downloadable!]
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