At the Threshold The Increasing Relevance of the Middle-Income Trap

We investigate the existence of a middle-income trap using finite state Markov chains, constant growth thresholds, and mean passage times. As well as studying output per head, we examine the dynamics of its proximate determinants: TFP, the capital-output ratio, and human capital. We find upwards mob...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Imam, Patrick
Other Authors: Temple, Jonathan
Format: eBook
Language:English
Published: Washington, D.C. International Monetary Fund 2024
Series:IMF Working Papers
Subjects:
Online Access:
Collection: International Monetary Fund - Collection details see MPG.ReNa
Description
Summary:We investigate the existence of a middle-income trap using finite state Markov chains, constant growth thresholds, and mean passage times. As well as studying output per head, we examine the dynamics of its proximate determinants: TFP, the capital-output ratio, and human capital. We find upwards mobility for the capital-output ratio and human capital, but not for relative TFP. The lack of upwards mobility in relative TFP, at least from an intermediate level, suggests that escaping the middle-income category can take many years, and such traps may become increasingly apparent in the years to come
Physical Description:45 pages
ISBN:9798400274855