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Determinants of Total Factor Productivity in the Italian Regions

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  • Guido Ascari

    (University of Pavia)

  • Valeria Di Cosmo

    (University of Pavia)

Abstract

This paper investigates the determinants of TFP for Italian regions. We find strong evidence in favour of the factors commonly suggested by the theoretical literature. In particular, R&D expenditures and the number of researchers are positively related to regional TFP. Moreover, human capital is an important determinant of TFP. Finally, we find a strong difference between Northern and Southern regions, particularly regarding the effect of research activity and social capital. Our results are robust across different estimation methods.

Suggested Citation

  • Guido Ascari & Valeria Di Cosmo, 2005. "Determinants of Total Factor Productivity in the Italian Regions," Macroeconomics 0511009, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:wpa:wuwpma:0511009
    Note: Type of Document - pdf; pages: 26. University of Pavia, Department of Economics, Working Paper # 170 (12-04)
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. B. Biagi & MG. Ladu, 2015. "Productivity and employment dynamics: new evidence from Italian regions," Working Paper CRENoS 201505, Centre for North South Economic Research, University of Cagliari and Sassari, Sardinia.
    2. Bernardo Maggi & Marco Guida, 2011. "Modelling non-performing loans probability in the commercial banking system: efficiency and effectiveness related to credit risk in Italy," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 41(2), pages 269-291, October.
    3. Silvia Dal Bianco, 2009. "A Reassessment of Italian Regional Convergence through a Non-Parametric Approach," Quaderni di Dipartimento 099, University of Pavia, Department of Economics and Quantitative Methods.
    4. Pompei, Fabrizio, 2013. "Efficiency And Productivity Growth Across The Italian Regions: The Regional Divide Revisited," MPRA Paper 52052, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Maffezzoli Marco, 2006. "Convergence Across Italian Regions and the Role of Technological Catch-Up," The B.E. Journal of Macroeconomics, De Gruyter, vol. 6(1), pages 1-43, August.
    6. Paola Cardamone & Valeria Pupo & Fernanda Ricotta, 2016. "Do Firms Benefit from University Research? Evidence from Italy," Italian Economic Journal: A Continuation of Rivista Italiana degli Economisti and Giornale degli Economisti, Springer;Società Italiana degli Economisti (Italian Economic Association), vol. 2(3), pages 445-471, November.
    7. Aiello, Francesco & Pupo, Valeria & Ricotta, Fernand, 2011. "Explaining TFP at firm level in Italy. Does location matter?," MPRA Paper 35656, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Davide Piacentino, 2008. "Productivity, Infrastructures and Convergence: Panel Data Evidence on Italian Regions," SCIENZE REGIONALI, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2008(2), pages 5-26.
    9. Aiello, Francesco & Pupo, Valeria & Ricotta, Fernanda, 2013. "Firm heterogeneity in TFP, sectoral innovation and geography. Evidence from Italy," MPRA Paper 48573, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. Joseph Byrne & Giorgio Fazio & Davide Piacentino, 2009. "Total Factor Productivity Convergence among Italian Regions: Some Evidence from Panel Unit Root Tests," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(1), pages 63-76.
    11. Duc-Anh Le & Phu Nguyen-Van & Thi Kim Cuong Pham, 2016. "Public expenditure, growth and productivity of Vietnam’s provinces," Working Papers of BETA 2016-17, Bureau d'Economie Théorique et Appliquée, UDS, Strasbourg.
    12. Jesus Felipe & John McCombie, 2012. "Agglomeration Economies, Regional Growth, and the Aggregate Production Function: A Caveat Emptor for Regional Scientists," Spatial Economic Analysis, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 7(4), pages 461-484, December.
    13. Calcagnini, Giorgio & Marin, Giovanni & Perugini, Francesco, 2021. "Labour flexibility, internal migration and productivity in Italian regions," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 308-320.
    14. Jesus Felipe & John McCombie, 2012. "Problems with Regional Production Functions and Estimates of Agglomeration Economies: A Caveat Emptor for Regional Scientists," Economics Working Paper Archive wp_725, Levy Economics Institute.
    15. Phu Nguyen-Van & Thi Kim Cuong Pham & Duc-Anh Le, 2019. "Productivity and public expenditure: a structural estimation for Vietnam’s provinces," Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science, Springer, vol. 3(1), pages 95-120, February.
    16. Antonio Alvarez & Rafael Garduño-Rivera & Hector M. Nuñez, 2017. "Mexico's North-South divide: The regional distribution of state inefficiency 1988–2008," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 96(4), pages 843-858, November.
    17. Diana Barros, Aurora A.C. Teixeira, 2021. "The technology balance of payments and international competitiveness: a panel data analysis of southern European countries, 2000-2017," European Journal of Comparative Economics, Cattaneo University (LIUC), vol. 18(1), pages 105-136, June.
    18. Stefano Manzocchi & Beniamino Quintieri & Gianluca Santoni, 2017. "Local manufacturing productivity markers: an empirical study of the Italian counties," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 59(1), pages 255-279, July.
    19. Grace Carolina Guevara‐Rosero, 2021. "Determinants of manufacturing micro firms' productivity in Ecuador. Do industry and canton where they operate matter?," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 13(4), pages 1215-1248, August.
    20. Giuseppe Albanese & Marco M. Sorge, 2010. "On the Production Function for Italy," Rivista Internazionale di Scienze Sociali, Vita e Pensiero, Pubblicazioni dell'Universita' Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, vol. 118(4), pages 401-416.
    21. Álvarez, Antonio & Garduño, Rafael & Núñez, Héctor, 2016. "Modelling the effect of crime on economic activity: The case of Mexican states," Efficiency Series Papers 2016/01, University of Oviedo, Department of Economics, Oviedo Efficiency Group (OEG).
    22. Bianca Biagi & Maria Gabriela Ladu, 2018. "Productivity and employment dynamics: new evidence from Italian regions," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 35(2), pages 313-336, August.
    23. Leonid Limonov & Marina Nesena, 2020. "Impact of ethno‐demographic structure of the population on performance of the Russian regions," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 12(4), pages 657-670, August.
    24. Daniele, Vittorio, 2007. "Divari regionali e crescita del Mezzogiorno, 1980-2004 [Sources of growth and convergence among Italian regions 1980-2004]," MPRA Paper 4994, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 02 Aug 2007.
    25. Joseph Byrne & Giorgio Fazio & Davide Piacentino, 2005. "Convergence in TFP among Italian Regions - Panel Unit Roots with Heterogeneity and Cross Sectional Dependence," ERSA conference papers ersa05p591, European Regional Science Association.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Total factor productivity; Italian regions; panel data; human capital; social capital;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence
    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes

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