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Specialization on a technologically stagnant sector need not be bad for growth

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  • Gabriel J. Felbermayr

Abstract

This paper presents a two-sector, North-South model of endogenous growth, where the investment goods sector features learning by doing. There are no technological spillovers across countries that are integrated only via goods markets. In equilibrium, South specializes on the consumption sector. Despite strict concavity of the production function for consumption goods, the endogenous decline in the relative price of investment goods maintains the incentives for capital accumulation. Hence, specialization on the stagnant consumption sector does not entail a growth penalty. The model is consistent with a number of empirical observations: (i) the relative price of investment goods has been declining in many countries; (ii) poor countries are net importers of investment equipment; (iii) per capita income convergence has stopped in the sample of open economies. Copyright 2007 , Oxford University Press.

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  • Gabriel J. Felbermayr, 2007. "Specialization on a technologically stagnant sector need not be bad for growth," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 59(4), pages 682-701, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:oxecpp:v:59:y:2007:i:4:p:682-701
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    Cited by:

    1. Hiroaki Sasaki, 2013. "Positive and Negative Population Growth and Long-Run Trade Patterns: A Non-Scale Growth Model," Discussion papers e-13-004, Graduate School of Economics Project Center, Kyoto University.
    2. Hiroaki Sasaki, 2011. "Trade, Non‐Scale Growth And Uneven Development," Metroeconomica, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 62(4), pages 691-711, November.
    3. Maoz, Yishay D. & Peled, Dan & Sarid, Assaf, 2011. "Trade agreements, bargaining and economic growth," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 92-101, March.
    4. Gabriel J. Felbermayr, 2005. "Dynamic Panel Data Evidence on the Trade-Income Relation," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 141(4), pages 583-611, December.
    5. Hiroaki Sasaki, 2008. "North-South Asymmetry in Returns to Scale, Uneven Development, and the Population Puzzle," TERG Discussion Papers 238, Graduate School of Economics and Management, Tohoku University.
    6. Hiroaki Sasaki, 2012. "Trade Patterns and Non-Scale Growth between Two Countries," Discussion papers e-12-006, Graduate School of Economics Project Center, Kyoto University.
    7. Sasaki, Hiroaki, 2017. "Population growth and trade patterns in semi-endogenous growth economies," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 1-12.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • F43 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Economic Growth of Open Economies
    • O41 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models

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