We show that the use of pooled and panel data in estimating convergence across countries (or other territorial areas) may involve some pitfalls since this type of data cannot properly distinguish between actual convergence and the possibility of decreasing growth rates over time within each...

This paper aims to test the conjecture advanced in a recent work by Bianchi and Menegatti (2007) that usual !convergence panel regressions may produce biased evidence, due to their inability to distinguish between actual catching-up across countries and decreasing growth rates over time within...

This paper tests for the existence of neoclassical and/or technological catching up between the Italian regions in the last three decades. The tests are performed by means of a modified b-convergence equation and of a model based on the decomposition of output growth. The results imply that...