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Human Capital and Economic Growth in Asia 1890–2000: A Time‐series Analysis

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  • Bas Van Leeuwen
  • Peter Foldvari

Abstract

There is a general consensus that human capital is a major factor behind long‐run economic growth. Yet, on a macro level, the empirical results do not always seem to concur with this view. To explain this gap between theory and empirics, more focus has been laid on measurement error and data quality. Using an alternative estimate of the stock of human capital, based on Judson (2002), we find evidence that the two major views on the role of human capital in economic development by Lucas (1988) and Romer (1990) coexist and are by no means mutually exclusive. Using a Johansen cointegration test, we find that in India and Indonesia the level of human capital is cointegrated with the level of aggregate income during the whole 20th century, which confirms the theory of Lucas (1988). In Japan, however, the Lucasian approach can be verified only for the first half of the century, while after 1950 there is cointegration between the growth rate of aggregate income and the level of human capital, which is in line with Romer's view.

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  • Bas Van Leeuwen & Peter Foldvari, 2008. "Human Capital and Economic Growth in Asia 1890–2000: A Time‐series Analysis," Asian Economic Journal, East Asian Economic Association, vol. 22(3), pages 225-240, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:asiaec:v:22:y:2008:i:3:p:225-240
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8381.2008.00276.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Mate Domician, 2014. "The Impact Of Labour Market Institutions On Productivity In A Sectoral Approach," Annals of Faculty of Economics, University of Oradea, Faculty of Economics, vol. 1(1), pages 359-368, July.
    2. Dmitry Didenko & Péter Földvári & Bas van Leeuwen, 2013. "Inspiration and Perspiration Factors in Economic Growth: The Former Soviet Union Area versus China (ca. 1920-2010)," Global COE Hi-Stat Discussion Paper Series gd12-283, Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University.
    3. Péter Földvári & Bas van Leeuwen & Dmitry Didenko, 2015. "Capital formation and economic growth under central planning and transition: A theoretical and empirical analysis, ca. 1920–2008," Acta Oeconomica, Akadémiai Kiadó, Hungary, vol. 65(1), pages 27-50, March.
    4. Luis Orea & Antonio Alvarez, 2022. "Alternative specifications of human capital in production functions," Economics and Business Letters, Oviedo University Press, vol. 11(4), pages 172-179.
    5. Sultana, Tanzila & Dey, Sima Rani & Tareque, Mohammad, 2022. "Exploring the linkage between human capital and economic growth: A look at 141 developing and developed countries," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 46(3).
    6. A. A. Aletdinova & A. V. Koritsky, 2020. "Comparative Analysis of the Return on Human Capital in the European and Asian Regions of Russia," Regional Research of Russia, Springer, vol. 10(2), pages 213-219, April.
    7. Imran HUSSAIN & Ramesh CHANDRA DAS, 2023. "Human Capital Formation And Economic Growth Relationships: Panel Data Insights For The Indian States," Regional Science Inquiry, Hellenic Association of Regional Scientists, vol. 0(1), pages 57-71, June.
    8. Guzev, ?.?. & Ledeneva, ?.V. & Plaksunova, ?.?, 2018. "Main Tendencies In The Development Of Human Capital In The Russian Federation, 2011-2016," Applied Econometrics and International Development, Euro-American Association of Economic Development, vol. 18(2), pages 55-72.

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