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Sectoral productivity gaps and aggregate productivity

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  • Sinha,Rishabh

Abstract

This paper examines the role of changes in sectoral productivity gaps over time in accounting for growth realized by countries over the past few decades. To quantify the productivity impact of the sectoral gaps, a simple model of resource allocation is developed in which the gaps arise due to distortions in the form of asymmetrical taxes across sectors. The paper finds a limited role of changes in distortions over time in accounting for actual growth. Implied growth from changes in distortions accounts for less than 2.5 percent of actual growth for the median country. To check if the lower contribution of changes in distortions is because of unrealized gains suggested by high levels of present distortions, productivity gains are estimated when distortions across countries are reduced to the US levels. Barring a couple of cases, the gains in aggregate productivity are modest across the sample of countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Sinha,Rishabh, 2016. "Sectoral productivity gaps and aggregate productivity," Policy Research Working Paper Series 7737, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:7737
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    Cited by:

    1. Sinha, Rishabh, 2023. "Central America's deindustrialization," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 319-335.
    2. Alistair Dieppe, 2021. "Global Productivity," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 34015.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Industrial Economics; Economic Theory&Research; Economic Growth;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence
    • O50 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - General

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