Cross-Country Differences in Marginal Product of Capital and the Efficient Allocation Of the World’s Capital Stock
Conference Year
January 2022
Abstract
Since his original publication in 1990, Robert E Lucas Jr’s observation of capital failing to flow between rich and poor countries has stoked debate across international development economics over its theoretical explanation. Since then, economists have sought to rationalize this observation through two explanations: fundamental production structure differences and capital market imperfections. This paper serves to build upon the marginal product of capital (MPK) compositions presented by Caselli and Feyrer (2007) to provide updated and refined data on national accounts. In reassessing cross-country MPK’s I find that the differentials between rich and poor countries have further reached near equalization.
Primary Faculty Mentor Name
Michael J Tomas III
Status
Undergraduate
Student College
Grossman School of Business
Second Student College
College of Arts and Sciences
Program/Major
Finance
Second Program/Major
Economics
Primary Research Category
Social Sciences
Cross-Country Differences in Marginal Product of Capital and the Efficient Allocation Of the World’s Capital Stock
Since his original publication in 1990, Robert E Lucas Jr’s observation of capital failing to flow between rich and poor countries has stoked debate across international development economics over its theoretical explanation. Since then, economists have sought to rationalize this observation through two explanations: fundamental production structure differences and capital market imperfections. This paper serves to build upon the marginal product of capital (MPK) compositions presented by Caselli and Feyrer (2007) to provide updated and refined data on national accounts. In reassessing cross-country MPK’s I find that the differentials between rich and poor countries have further reached near equalization.