Explaining Differences in the Productivity of Capital Across Countries in the Context of 'New' Growth Theory

Kevin S. Nell () and Anthony Thirlwall

Studies in Economics from School of Economics, University of Kent

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to explain differences in the productivity of capital across countries taking 84 rich and poor countries over the period 1980-2011, and to test the orthodox neoclassical assumption of diminishing returns to capital. The marginal product of capital is measured as the ratio of the long-run growth of GDP to a country’s investment ratio. Twenty potential determinants are considered using a general-to-specific model selection procedure. Education, government consumption, geography, export growth, openness, political rights and macroeconomic instability turn out to be the most important variables. The data also suggest constant returns to capital, so investment matters for long-run growth.

Keywords: new growth theory; investment; productivity of capital (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O11 O33 O43 O47 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014-11
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-eff and nep-gro
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Working Paper: Explaining Differences in the Productivity of Capital Across Countries in the Context of ‘New’ Growth Theory (2014)
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