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Sigma Convergence versus Beta Convergence: Evidence from U.S. County-Level Data

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Author Info
Young, Andrew
Higgins, Matthew
Levy, Daniel

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Abstract

In this paper we outline (i) why sigma-convergence may not accompany beta-convergence, (ii) discuss evidence of beta-convergence in the U.S., and (iii) use U.S. county-level data containing over 3,000 cross-sectional observations to demonstrate that sigma-convergence cannot be detected at the county-level across the U.S., or within the large majority of the individual U.S. states considered separately. Indeed, in many cases statistically significant sigma-divergence is found.

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Paper provided by University Library of Munich, Germany in its series MPRA Paper with number 2714.

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Date of creation: 12 Apr 2007
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Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:2714

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Related research
Keywords: sigma-convergence; beta-convergence; Solow growth model; speed of convergence; balanced growth; U.S. county-level data; income distribution; Gini coefficient; income equality;

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
O40 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - General
O18 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Regional, Urban, and Rural Analyses
R11 - Urban, Rural, and Regional Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Analysis of Growth, Development, and Changes
O11 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
H70 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - General

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References listed on IDEAS
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. Andrew Young & Matthew Higgins & Daniel Levy, 2004. "Heterogeneity in Convergence Rates and Income Determination across U.S. States: Evidence from County-Level Data," Development and Comp Systems 0402003, EconWPA. [Downloadable!]
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  2. Matthew J. Higgins & Daniel Levy & Andrew T. Young, 2006. "Heterogeneous Convergence," Emory Economics 0615, Department of Economics, Emory University (Atlanta). [Downloadable!]
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  3. Efthymios G. Tsionas, 2000. "Regional Growth and Convergence: Evidence from the United States," Regional Studies, Taylor and Francis Journals, vol. 34(3), pages 231-238, May. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  4. Matthew Higgins & Daniel Levy & Andrew Young, 2005. "Growth and Convergence across the U.S: Evidence from County-Level Data," Macroeconomics 0509023, EconWPA. [Downloadable!]
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  5. Sala-i-Martin, Xavier X., 1996. "Regional cohesion: Evidence and theories of regional growth and convergence," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 40(6), pages 1325-1352, June. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
    Other versions:
  6. Mankiw, N Gregory & Romer, David & Weil, David N, 1992. "A Contribution to the Empirics of Economic Growth," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, MIT Press, vol. 107(2), pages 407-37, May. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  7. Islam, Nazrul, 1995. "Growth Empirics: A Panel Data Approach," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, MIT Press, vol. 110(4), pages 1127-70, November. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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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. Young, Andrew & Higgins, Matthew & Levy, Daniel, 2007. "Black Populations and Economic Growth: An Extreme Bounds Analysis of Mississippi County-Level Data," MPRA Paper 1646, University Library of Munich, Germany. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  2. Matthew J. Higgins & Daniel Levy & Andrew T. Young, 2007. "Robust Correlates of County-Level Growth in the U.S," Emory Economics 0708, Department of Economics, Emory University (Atlanta). [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  3. González-Val, Rafael, 2009. "What makes cities bigger and richer? Evidence from 1990-2000 in the US," MPRA Paper 15636, University Library of Munich, Germany. [Downloadable!]
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