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Human Capital and Productivity Growth in Italian Regional Economies: A Sectoral Analysis

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  • Sergio Lodde

    (Universita' di Cagliari)

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between human capital and productivity growth with reference to Italian regions, testing the neoclassical and the Schumpeterian hypotheses by means of sectoral data. The former stresses the accumulation of human capital as a determinant of growth, while the latter emphasizes the role of its stock. We expect the Schumpeterian approach to be more relevant in the industrial sector where the most important growth determinant is innovation. The results do not confirm our expectations: in the industrial sector the neoclassical hypothesis is clearly rejected by the data. Separating out the technical component of human capital provides some support for the Schumpeterian hypothesis, although results are not robust to changes in model specification. In the service sector a positive effect of human capital accumulation is found for the whole sector but its explanatory power decreases considerably in the marketable services branch.

Suggested Citation

  • Sergio Lodde, 2008. "Human Capital and Productivity Growth in Italian Regional Economies: A Sectoral Analysis," Rivista Internazionale di Scienze Sociali, Vita e Pensiero, Pubblicazioni dell'Universita' Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, vol. 116(2), pages 211-233.
    • Handle: RePEc:vep:journl:y:2008:v:116:i:2:p:211-233
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    Cited by:

    1. d'Agostino, Giorgio & Scarlato, Margherita, 2011. "Innovation, Growth and Quality of Life: a Theoretical Model and an Estimate for the Italian Regions," MPRA Paper 31939, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Batabyal, Amitrajeet A. & Beladi, Hamid, 2016. "The effects of probabilistic innovations on Schumpeterian economic growth in a creative region," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 224-230.
    3. Amitrajeet Batabyal & Peter Nijkamp, 2014. "Innovation, Decentralization, and Planning in a Multi-Region Model of Schumpeterian Economic Growth," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 14(3), pages 605-628, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Growth; human capital; regions; sectors;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • O40 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - General
    • 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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