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Testing Convergence in Income Distribution

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  • Yong Bao
  • Shatakshee Dhongde

Abstract

The generalized method of moments (GMM) estimator is often used to test for convergence in income distribution in a dynamic panel set‐up. We argue that though consistent, the GMM estimator utilizes the sample observations inefficiently. We propose a simple ordinary least squares (OLS) estimator with more efficient use of sample information. Our Monte Carlo study shows that the GMM estimator can be very imprecise and severely biased in finite samples. In contrast, the OLS estimator overcomes these shortcomings.

Suggested Citation

  • Yong Bao & Shatakshee Dhongde, 2009. "Testing Convergence in Income Distribution," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 71(2), pages 295-302, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:obuest:v:71:y:2009:i:2:p:295-302
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-0084.2008.00514.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Bao, Yong & Yu, Xuewen, 2023. "Indirect inference estimation of dynamic panel data models," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 235(2), pages 1027-1053.
    2. Huang, Ho-Chuan (River) & Liu, Wei-Han & Yeh, Chih-Chuan, 2012. "Convergence in price levels across US cities," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 114(3), pages 245-248.
    3. Christina Christou & Juncal Cunado & Rangan Gupta, 2019. "Price Convergence Patterns across U.S. States," Panoeconomicus, Savez ekonomista Vojvodine, Novi Sad, Serbia, vol. 66(2), pages 187-201.
    4. Shatakshee Dhongde & Xing Miao, 2013. "Cross-Country Convergence in Income Inequality," Working Papers 290, ECINEQ, Society for the Study of Economic Inequality.
    5. Pei-Chien Lin & Ho-Chuan Huang, 2011. "Inequality convergence in a panel of states," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 9(2), pages 195-206, June.
    6. Dustin Chambers & Shatakshee Dhongde, 2017. "Are countries becoming equally unequal?," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 53(4), pages 1323-1348, December.
    7. Dustin Chambers & Susan Hamer, 2012. "Culture And Growth: Some Empirical Evidence," Bulletin of Economic Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 64(4), pages 549-564, October.
    8. Chambers, Dustin & Dhongde, Shatakshee, 2016. "Convergence in income distributions: Evidence from a panel of countries," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 262-270.

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