Productivity differences between and within countries
By: [by] Daron Acemoglu [and] Melissa Dell .
Contributors: Dell, Melissa; Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Economics
Series: Working paper series / Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Economics -- working paper 09-20; Working paper (Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Economics) -- no. 09-20.
Publisher: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Economics
Published: 2009
Place of publication: Cambridge, MA
Language: eng
Number of pages: 34
Description: We document substantial within-country (cross-municipality) differences in incomes for a large number of countries in the Americas. A significant fraction of the within-country differences cannot be explained by observed human capital. We conjecture that the sources of within-country and between-country differences are related. As a first step towards a unified framework, we propose a simple model incorporating both differences in technological know-how across countries and differences in productive efficiency within countries. Keywords: economic development, economic growth, institutions, Latin America, productivity differences, regional inequality, within-country differences. JEL Classifications: O18, O40, R11.
Notes: "July 6, 2009."

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 23-24).

Abstract in HTML and working paper for download in PDF available via World Wide Web at the Social Science Research Network.