GDP per Capita among African Countries over the Period 1950–2008: Highlights of Convergence Clubs

Serge Rey and Florent Deisting

Economics Bulletin, 2012, vol. 32, issue 4, 2779-2800

Abstract: Using intradistribution dynamics and panel unit root tests, this study considers the economic convergence processes of 53 African countries during the period 1950–2008. The stochastic evidence reveals no global convergence among African countries but provides indications of convergence clubs. The poorest countries remained relatively poor, stuck in a poverty trap, whereas countries with the best initial conditions converged. The analysis of structural characteristics reveals that the significant determinants of the constitution of convergence clubs among African countries are openness, foreign direct investment inflows, and the level of development. In a few cases, tests also highlight the production structure and access to the sea as determinants.

Keywords: Convergence; Clubs; Distribution dynamics; Kernel stochastic; stochastic convergence; Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C1 O4 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012-10-08
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Working Paper: GDP per Capita among African Countries over the Period 1950-2008: Highlights of Convergence Clubs (2012)
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