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Structural transformation and productivity in Latin America

Author

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  • Ferreira Pedro Cavalcanti

    (FGV/EPGE – Escola Brasileira de Economia e Finanças, Praia de Botafogo 190, 1125, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 22253-900, Brazil)

  • da Silva Leonardo Fonseca

    (FGV/EPGE – Escola Brasileira de Economia e Finanças, Praia de Botafogo 190, 1125, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 22253-900, Brazil)

Abstract

This article examines the effects of sectorial shifts and structural transformation on the recent productivity path of Latin America. We use a four-sector (agriculture, industry, modern services and traditional services) general equilibrium model calibrated to the main economies in the region. The model very closely replicates labor reallocations across sectors and the growth of aggregate labor productivity from 1950 to 2005. Structural transformation explains a sizeable portion of the region’s convergence in the first decades. In most cases, the poor performance of the traditional services sector is the main cause of the slowdown in productivity growth observed in the region after the mid-1970s and is a key factor in explaining the divergence during this period.

Suggested Citation

  • Ferreira Pedro Cavalcanti & da Silva Leonardo Fonseca, 2015. "Structural transformation and productivity in Latin America," The B.E. Journal of Macroeconomics, De Gruyter, vol. 15(2), pages 603-630, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:bejmac:v:15:y:2015:i:2:p:603-630:n:4
    DOI: 10.1515/bejm-2014-0020
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    8. Fernández-Arias, Eduardo & Blyde, Juan S. & Gill, Indermit S. & Monge Naranjo, Alexander & Neumeyer, Pablo A. & Fernández Valdovinos, Carlos G. & Pinheiro, Armando Castelar & Fuentes, J. Rodrigo & Hop, 2005. "Sources of Growth in Latin America: What Is Missing?," IDB Publications (Books), Inter-American Development Bank, number 279, November.
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    Blog mentions

    As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:
    1. Transformação estrutural, serviços e política industrial
      by Pedro Cavalcanti Ferreira in Economista X on 2014-10-08 00:09:00

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    Cited by:

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    2. Lingfu Kong & Emrah Sofuoğlu & Balogun Daud Ishola & Shujaat Abbas & Qingran Guo & Khurshid Khudoykulov, 2024. "Sustainable development through structural transformation: a pathway to economic, social, and environmental progress," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 57(2), pages 1-34, April.
    3. Murat Ungor, 2017. "Productivity Growth and Labor Reallocation: Latin America versus East Asia," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 24, pages 25-42, March.
    4. Néstor Adrián Le Clech, 2023. "Productive capacity and international competitiveness: evidence from Latin America and Caribbean countries," Empirica, Springer;Austrian Institute for Economic Research;Austrian Economic Association, vol. 50(3), pages 695-724, August.
    5. Jayme Jr., Frederico G. & Missio, Fabrício José & Pereira, Wallace Marcelino, 2023. "The role of services in economic development and the core-periphery relationship," Revista CEPAL, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL), April.
    6. Néstor Le Clech & Juan Carlos Guevara-Pérez, 2023. "Latin America and the Caribbean’s Productivity: The Role of Pro-Market Policies, Institutions, Infrastructure, and Natural Resource Endowments," Economies, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-21, May.
    7. Mehrotra, Santosh & Parida, Jajati K., 2017. "Why is the Labour Force Participation of Women Declining in India?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 360-380.
    8. Sanjoy Kumar Saha, 2022. "How Does the Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on Labor Productivity Affects Productive Capacity?," International Journal of Finance, Insurance and Risk Management, International Journal of Finance, Insurance and Risk Management, vol. 12(4), pages 101-135.
    9. Eduardo Gonçalves & Fernando Salgueiro Perobelli & Inácio Fernandes Araújo, 2017. "Estimating intersectoral technology spillovers for Brazil," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 42(6), pages 1377-1406, December.

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