We first provide an empirical sstudy of the energy-saving technological progress on the ENERDATA database. Energy intensity is shown to decrease over the period 1971-1999 in OECD countries, indicating a significant energy-saving technical progress trend. We also show via semiparametric partially...

The aim of this paper is to draw attention to the role of local industrial networks in a regional development process. We build a one-region model in which we investigate the conditions that make local networks arise, distinguishing between spontaneous and sustained networks. Accounting for the...

In this paper I accomplish a levels account exercise across countries in order to calculate contributions from differences in the relative price of investment and the investment rate to differences in the physical capital-output ratio -and consequently in output per worker- across countries. I...

R&D components are investigated in dynamic factor demand models, using a pooled data set. Models where information on R&D is (double or ) wrongly counted and (once or) correctly counted are compared by GMM estimates, (non-)nested GMM tests and residual analyses. The results indicate that R&D...

In this paper, we have developed a two-period overlapping-generation model featuring the effects of child nutrition in developing countries. The model gives rise to multiple equilibria including a poverty trap. It shows that child nutrition status may affect the development of human capital...

We develop a simple open-economy AK model with collateral constraints that accounts for growth-reversal episodes, during which countries face abrupt changes in their growth rate that lead to either growth miracles or growth disasters. Absent commitment to investment by the borrowing country,...

We provide a theory that is able to account for the observed comovement between the shift in intergenerational living arrangements from coresidence to non-coresidence and economic development. Our theory is consistent with the diminution in the status of the elderly documented by some...

Among possible lifestyles, the DINKs (“double income no kids”) are couples choosing to be childless, while the DEWKs (“dually employed with kids”) are couples with children. We develop a theory of marriage and parenthood decisions, where we distinguish the choice to have children from...

According to AK growth models, permanent changes in investment rates have permanent effects on a country’s rate of economic growth. Jones (Quarterly Journal of Economics, 1995, 110, 495-525) finds strong evidence against this prediction studying the time series properties of GDP growth rates...

Abstract: The first challenge for economic growth theory is to understand the transition from stagnation to growth at the time of the Industrial Revolution and in particular to identify the main factor(s) that triggered the take-off. Doing so also helps to understand why there are poor and rich...