Productivity Convergence and Divergence in Latin America, 1970-2014

The paper examines Latin American countries’ productivity growth levels and their convergence patterns utilizing nonparametric frontier approaches. Utilizing a sample of 17 Latin American countries for the period 1970-2014 it estimates various productivity indexes alongside with their main components. Moreover a convergence analysis is conducted estimating relative productivity convergence paths. The results suggest that over the period examined, countries’ productivity growth levels have contracted. We provide evidence that the implementation of the structural reforms of the 1990s do not appear to have driven Latin American countries to higher productivity levels. Moreover, the results do not render support to the productivity convergence hypothesis. On the other hand, some support was found for countries’ technological change levels, identifying three convergence clubs.

Progress in child stunting across the world from 1990 to 2015: testing the global convergence hypothesis

Objective: This study has two-fold objectives: first, to test the global convergence hypothesis in the progress of child stunting across 174 countries over the period 1990–2015; second, to identify factors determining the process of convergence or divergence. Design: The study design comprises macro-level cross-country analyses. Our empirical strategy uses parametric convergence models such as absolute and conditional β-convergence models, while non-parametric convergence models such as Kernel density plots serve as robustness checks. Setting: The study uses a global setting comprising child stunting information from 174 countries. Participants: The participants for this study are 174 countries. The information on child stunting prevalence for most countries is available from the UNICEF-WHO-WB Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates Expanded Database (April-2019), while national-level surveys are used for those countries where UNICEF-WHO-WB Database is not available. The data for socio-economic variables are taken from the World Bank’s data bank (1990–2015). Results: Findings from the absolute β-convergence model estimates show that progress in child stunting has diverged over the entire period (1990–2015). However, the speed of divergence has reduced for the recent period (2010–2015). The conditional β-convergence model estimates show that cross-country heterogeneity in GDP per capita, poverty and health care expenditure are significant factors explaining divergence in child stunting. Conclusions: For replacing current divergence with convergence in child stunting worldwide, the study demonstrates the critical role of economic factors and public spending on health care to reduce child stunting, particularly in countries where progress is slow.

Global Disparities of Greenhouse Gases Emission in Agriculture Sector: Panel Club Convergence Analysis

A lot has been discussed about the greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions in the existing studies, the study on the club convergence of GHGs emissions is limited particularly for the agriculture sector. This study tries to investigate the convergence hypothesis across 93 countries spanning 1980–2017. To examine the convergence hypothesis, we implement the novel Phillips and Sul test. Results obtained from this test show the evidence of divergence when we consider all 93 countries as a group. This implies that GHGs across the countries are following different convergence paths. To capture this, we further apply clustering algorithms and results show the existence of five clubs of convergence and one group stating the need for altered the polices at the club level to achieve a single steady-state in GHGs emission. Moreover, our findings recommend that the mitigation policies would be considered the presence of different clubs of regions with different convergence paths in terms of GHGs emissions and account for the distributional effect of transfers across countries.

Convergence in per capita carbon footprint and ecological footprint for G7 countries: Evidence from panel Fourier threshold unit root test

This paper aims to explore the convergence of per capita carbon and ecological footprints in G7 countries during 1961–2016. For this purpose, we propose a new unit root test in the panel setting–the panel Fourier threshold unit root test. This test takes into consideration both multiple smooth structural changes and nonlinearity. According to the literature, the power of the nonlinear unit root tests is reduced in the case of ignoring structural breaks. Therefore, we expect to get more reliable empirical findings by utilizing this methodology. The empirical results of this paper show that these series have nonlinear behaviors for the period 1961–2016. Furthermore, they demonstrate that the absolute convergence hypothesis is valid in G7 countries for both regimes. Thus, governments can conduct common environmental policies, including international climate summits and agreements, instead of national-based policies to mitigate environmental deterioration in their countries.

Testování hypotézy konvergence v regionu střední Evropy pomocí kointegrace

The issue of regional disparities development is usually examined only in terms of beta- and sigma-convergence. To extend the discussion, therefore, it is needed to use approaches based on completely different principles, which are not burden with always the same methodological limits. In this context, the aim of this contribution is to apply the cointegration approach to assess the development of regional disparities in economic performance and income in Central Europe. On the sample of 62 regions in 2004-2018, this contribution applies the disparity evaluation method based on the Pesaran's probabilistic approach. In particular, we test the convergence hypothesis by KPSS test (null of stationary), and the divergence hypothesis by ADF test (null of unit root). The analysis found the regional convergence in economic performance, but not in income. After extending the analysis to the level of individual countries, internal regional convergence within most of countries was found in both economic performance and income. As part of the disparity evaluation in economic performance, "western" (regions of the Austria, Czechia and Germany) and the "eastern" convergence club (Hungary, Poland and Slovakia) were identified. Similarly, in the case of income analysis some signs of convergence club (Czechia, Hungary and Slovakia) were found.

Exploring the tourism markets’ convergence hypothesis in Italy

This article aims at investigating the tourism markets’ convergence hypothesis across Italy’s 20 major source markets. To reach our goal, we use monthly data of tourist arrivals and overnights over the period 2008–2018 and the time-varying factor model developed by Phillips and Sul (2007, 2009). Our findings suggest the absence of full (absolute) convergence, leading us to accept the hypothesis of club convergence. We show that the traditionally more important source markets have a tendency to persist, while Asian countries show heterogeneous behaviour. Furthermore, the relative decline in the contribution to total arrivals and overnights of several international source markets calls for a reconsideration of the promotional strategies to stimulate inbound tourism from these countries.

Testing the regional Convergence Hypothesis for the progress in health status in India during 1980–2015

The key challenges of global health policy are not limited to improving average health status, with a need for greater focus on reducing regional inequalities in health outcomes. This study aimed to assess health inequalities across the major Indian states used data from the Sample Registration System (SRS, 1981–2015), National Family Health Survey (NFHS, 1992–2015) and other Indian government official statistics. Catching-up plots, absolute and conditional β-convergence models, sigma (σ) plots and Kernel Density plots were used to test the Convergence Hypothesis, Dispersion Measure of Mortality (DMM) and the Gini index to measure progress in absolute and relative health inequalities across the major Indian states. The findings from the absolute β-convergence measure showed convergence in life expectancy at birth among the states. The results from the β- and σ-convergences showed convergence replacing divergence post-2000 for child and maternal mortality indicators. Furthermore, the estimates suggested a continued divergence for child underweight, but slow improvements in child full immunization. The trends in inter-state inequality suggest a decline in absolute inequality, but a significant increase or stationary trend in relative health inequality during 1981–2015. The application of different convergence metrics worked as robustness checks in the assessment of the convergence process in the selected health indicators for India over the study period.

Toward a spatial approach for convergence

Purpose In recent years, there is growing recognition of the importance of geography and space in the analysis of economic convergence by focusing on the dynamics of monetary indicators. The analysis of spatial convergence based on socio-economic indicators are rare. These variables present a complement to understand the spatial dynamics of territorial units. The purpose of this paper is, first, to analyzes and describes trends in multidimensional poverty in Morocco and second it explores the convergence hypothesis. Design/methodology/approach Data are driven from HCP (2017). It concerns 75 provinces over the period 2004 and 2014. In addition to the availability of data, this period corresponds to significant changes in public policy. The nature of the observations necessitates the use of the spatial analysis techniques. Findings The results show that poverty is a geographical phenomenon with low speed of convergence. The paper propose some solutions to help policymakers implement an effective targeting policy aimed at reducing spatial inequalities in terms of multidimensional poverty in Morocco. Originality/value The analysis of spatial convergence based on socio-economic indicators are rare. This paper will focus on the convergence of the poverty index for a developing country.