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Potential Growth, Misallocation, and Institutional Obstacles: Firm-Level Evidence

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  • Leon-Ledesma, Miguel

    (University of Kent)

Abstract

One of the key determinants of potential growth are productivity gains. Total factor productivity (TFP)differences are the main determinant of per capita income differences between countries. A key factor to understand TFP is misallocation: the aggregate productivity loss from microeconomic distortions that prevent factors of production from being allocated to their optimal use. If misallocation is a key determinant of TFP differences, then reallocation of factors of production is a key driver of productivity gains. Since distortions preventing misallocation can be driven by institutional obstacles, then policies focused on the removal of these obstacles will affect potential growth. In this paper, we use a firm-level database for 62 developing countries to analyze which are the most important institutional obstacles driving misallocation. Our results highlight the importance of trade regulations, the functioning of courts, and access to finance as key determinants of misallocation within countries. Political instability, labor regulations, and access to infrastructure, appear as relevant obstacles explaining misallocation between countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Leon-Ledesma, Miguel, 2016. "Potential Growth, Misallocation, and Institutional Obstacles: Firm-Level Evidence," ADB Economics Working Paper Series 480, Asian Development Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:ris:adbewp:0480
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Olley, G Steven & Pakes, Ariel, 1996. "The Dynamics of Productivity in the Telecommunications Equipment Industry," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 64(6), pages 1263-1297, November.
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    3. Sebnem Kalemli-Ozcan & Bent E. Sørensen, 2014. "Misallocation, Property Rights, and Access to Finance: Evidence from within and across Africa," NBER Chapters, in: African Successes, Volume III: Modernization and Development, pages 183-211, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Diego Restuccia, 2013. "factor misallocation and development," The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics,, Palgrave Macmillan.
    5. Miguel A. León-Ledesma & Peter McAdam & Alpo Willman, 2010. "Identifying the Elasticity of Substitution with Biased Technical Change," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 100(4), pages 1330-1357, September.
    6. Benjamin Moll, 2014. "Productivity Losses from Financial Frictions: Can Self-Financing Undo Capital Misallocation?," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 104(10), pages 3186-3221, October.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    firm level; misallocation; potential growth; productivity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O40 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - General
    • O43 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Institutions and Growth
    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence

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