In this paper we outline (i) why sigma-convergence may not accompany beta-convergence, (ii) discuss evidence of beta-convergence … sigma-convergence has not occurred at the county-level across the U.S., or within the vast majority of the individual U …

In this paper we outline (i) why sigma-convergence may not accompany beta-convergence, (ii) discuss evidence of beta-convergence … sigma-convergence cannot be detected at the county-level across the U.S., or within the large majority of the individual U …

We use U.S. county-level data to estimate convergence rates for 22 individual states. We find significant heterogeneity …. E.g., the California estimate is 19.9 percent and the New York estimate is 3.3 percent. Convergence rates are …

estimate heterogeneity in convergence rates across 22 individual U.S. states. Applying GMM estimation, we find significant … heterogeneity in the state-level convergence rates. For example, while the average convergence rate is 9.2 percent, the California … estimate is 19.9 percent and the New York estimate is 3.3 percent. The estimated convergence rates are essentially uncorrelated …