Understanding Labour Productivity Convergence: Empirical Evidence from South Asia

Tahir Mahmood (), Kifayat Ullah () and Sareer Ahmad ()
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Tahir Mahmood: Karakoram International University
Kifayat Ullah: Quaid-I-Azam University Islamabad
Sareer Ahmad: Quaid-I-Azam University Islamabad

The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, 2024, vol. 67, issue 4, No 1, 957-971

Abstract: Abstract A key metric for evaluating a nation's level of development and comparing per capita economic growth is labour productivity. The data used in this study, which focuses on South Asian nations like Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, were collected between 1991 and 2018. Our analysis' findings paint a complex picture when looking at various industries, but there is not any conclusive evidence of convergence at the aggregate level, indicating that economies are not necessarily convergent overall. A more thorough sectoral examination, however, shows some intriguing trends. Convergence is evident in most economic sectors, suggesting that many industries are heading toward comparable productivity or income per worker levels. Notable convergence patterns can be seen in industries like business services, government services, utility services, trade services, and mining. This implies that economies or areas within these sectors are catching up to one another in terms of income levels or productivity. Nonetheless, the lack of convergence in other industries, such as services, transportation, construction, agriculture, and others, suggests that these sectors will continue to experience gaps or different paths.

Keywords: Marginal productivity; Sustainable growth; Emerging economies; South Asia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J01 J21 J24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1007/s41027-024-00543-z

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