Publication:
Findlay-Grubert versus Rybczynski : Testing Growth Hypotheses in Classic Trade Theories Using Singapore's Industries

No Thumbnail Available
Published
2009
ISSN
09638199
Date
2012-03-30
Editor(s)
Abstract
In the classic literature of multi-sector small open economy, there are two, competing hypotheses on growth. Findlay and Grubert (1959) showed that productivity growth in one sector affects the factor intensity of all sectors. Rybczynski (1955) presents the long run growth effects of endowment accumulations. Focusing on the most open small economy, this paper tests the two hypotheses directly by estimating the relative contributions at the industry level for Singapore. Results suggest that productivity contributes more in the electronics industry, but domestic endowments matter more in other industries. This paper is also the first to present evidence on the Findlay-Grubert effect by showing that the productivity growth of the electronics industry pushes up the capital-labor ratios of all industries.
Link to Data Set
Digital Object Identifier
Associated content
Report Series
Other publications in this report series
Journal
Journal Volume
Journal Issue

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Publication
    It's Not Factor Accumulation : Stylized Facts and Growth Models
    (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2001-05) Easterly, William; Levine, Ross
    The article documents five stylized facts of economic growth: (1) the 'residual' (total factor productivity, tfp) rather than factor accumulation accounts for most of the income and growth differences across countries; (2) income diverges over the long run; (3) factor accumulation is persistent while growth is not, and the growth path of countries exhibits remarkable variation; (4) economic activity is highly concentrated, with all factors of production flowing to the richest areas; and (5) national policies are closely associated with long-run economic growth rates. These facts do not support models with diminishing returns, constant returns to scale, some fixed factor of production, or an emphasis on factor accumulation. However, empirical work does not yet decisively distinguish among the different theoretical conceptions of tfp growth. Economists should devote more effort toward modeling and quantifying tfp.
  • Publication
    Fostering Higher Growth and Employment in the Kingdom of Morocco
    (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2006) World Bank
    This book identifies the binding constraints to growth of Morocco. It applies an innovative procedure known as "growth diagnostic" and has a central finding. The Moroccan economy suffers from a too slow process of structural transformation for achieving higher growth, especially for its exports that face unfavorable external shocks arising from competitor countries in the main markets for Moroccan exports. This process of so-called "productive diversification" requires that Morocco enhance its competitiveness.
  • Publication
    Trade and Economic Growth : Evidence on the Role of Complementarities for CAFTA-DR Countries
    (2010-09-01) Calderón, César; Poggioa, Virginia
    This paper examines the effects of trade on growth among Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement countries. To accomplish this task, the authors collected a panel data set of 136 countries over 1960-2010, and estimated cross-country growth regressions using an econometric methodology that accounts for unobserved effects and the likely endogeneity of the growth determinants. Following recent empirical efforts, they tested whether the impact of trade openness on growth may be more effective after surpassing a "minimum threshold" in specific areas closely related to economic development. The analysis finds not only that there is a robust causal link from trade to growth, but also that the growth benefits from trade are larger in countries with higher levels of education and innovation, deeper financial markets, a stronger institutional framework, more developed infrastructure networks, a high level of integration with world capital markets, and less stringent economic regulations. On average, rising trade has benefited growth in Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement countries. However, the lack of progress in structural reforms has not allowed these countries to maximize the potential benefits from trade.
  • Publication
    Patterns of Long Term Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2007-11) Arbache, Jorge Saba; Page, John
    Using the most recent purchasing power parity data for 44 sub-Saharan African countries, this paper examines the characteristics of long run growth in Africa between 1975 and 2005. The authors investigate the following issues: cross-country income structure, income convergence, the country level distribution of income, growth and income persistence, and formation of convergence clubs.
  • Publication
    From Growth Theory to Policy Design
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2009) Aghion, Philippe; Durlauf, Steven
    This paper focuses on how growth theory can guide growth policy design. It first argues that policy matters for growth, in particular when policy variables are interacted with country?specific variables (financial development, institutional environment, technological development, and so forth). Second, it argues that the Schumpeterian paradigm does a better job at delivering policy prescriptions that vary with country characteristics. Third, it discusses the advantages and drawbacks of growth regression analysis. Finally, it briefly describes and then questions the recently proposed 'growth diagnostic' approach.

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

No results found.