Paradise Lost? Growth, Convergence and Migration in the South Pacific
Summary:
This paper examines the determinants of growth for nine South Pacific countries during the period 1971-93, using the analytical framework of the Solow-Swan neoclassical growth model. Chamberlain’s II-matrix estimator is used to account for unobserved country-specific heterogeneity in the growth process, and to control for errors-in-variables bias in calculations of real per-capita GDP. The speed of convergence of South Pacific countries to their respective steady-state levels of per-capita GDP, after controlling for the important regional effects of net international migration, is estimated at a relatively fast 4 percent per year. In addition, private and official transfers emanating from regional donor countries have kept the dispersion of real per-capita national disposable income constant over the period, despite a significant widening in the regional dispersion of real per-capita GDP.
Series:
Working Paper No. 1995/028
Subject:
Disposable income Expenditure Migration National accounts National income Personal income Population and demographics Public expenditure review
Notes:
Also published in Staff Papers, Vol. 42, No. 3, September 1995.
English
Publication Date:
March 1, 1995
ISBN/ISSN:
9781451844603/1018-5941
Stock No:
WPIEA0281995
Pages:
42
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