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Economic growth in Colombia: A reversal of Fortune

Mauricio Cardenas

No 2402, Archivos de Economía from Departamento Nacional de Planeación

Abstract: Colombia’s annual GDP growth fell to an average of 3% between 1980 and 2000 from 5% between 1950 and 1980. The sources-of-growth decomposition shows that this reversal can be accounted entirely by changes in productivity. Indeed, between 1960 and 1980 productivity gains increased output per capita by nearly 1% per year. Since 1980, productivity losses have reduced output per capita at about the same rate. The time series analysis suggests that the implosion of productivity is related to the increase in criminality which has diverted capital and labor to unproductive activities. In turn, the rise in crime has been the result of rapid expansion in drug-trafficking activities, which erupted around 1980. This explanation is supported by cross-country evidence that shows that Colombia is clear outlier in terms of conflict and fragmentation, and suggests that high crime is associated with low productivity.

Keywords: Economic; growth (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 40
Date: 2002-03-18
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (14)

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https://colaboracion.dnp.gov.co/CDT/Estudios%20Econmicos/179.pdf

Related works:
Journal Article: Economic Growth in Colombia: a reversal of "fortune"? (2007) Downloads
Journal Article: Economic growth in Colombia: A reversal of "Fortune"? (2007) Downloads
Working Paper: Economic growth in Colombia: a reversal of "fortune"? (2007) Downloads
Working Paper: Economic Growth in Colombia: A Reversal of 'Fortune'? (2001) Downloads
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:col:000118:002402

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