A Remark on the Form of Accumulation Functions in Economic Growth Models
AbstractThis study is a short note designed to underline the importance of using the theoretically required form of accumulation functions. It is now a common knowledge that a growth model must rely on non-diminishing returns to a factor of production in order to generate endogenous growth. In Lucas (1988), for example, there is no diminishing-returns to the accumulation of human capital, which is the source of endogenous growth in the model. This rule, however, can lead to the following potentially misleading assumption: diminishing marginal productivity to each factor of production—given that there is no other source of long run growth—is sufficient for generating steady state equilibrium at levels. In this short note, we make two points. First, diminishing marginal productivity alone is not necessarily sufficient for generating steady state equilibrium at levels. Second, the inclusion of a theoretically required counter-force in the accumulation function together with diminishing returns is sufficient for generating steady state equilibrium. In conclusion, we heuristically argue that an accumulation function with no theoretically required counter-moving force, with or without diminishing returns, may bias the results of the model.
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Bibliographic InfoPaper provided by Izmir University of Economics in its series Working Papers with number 1204.
Length: 9 pages
Date of creation: Apr 2012
Date of revision:
Accumulation function; Stationary state; Steady state; Differential equations; Economic Growth; Long-run Equilibrium;
Other versions of this item:
- I.Hakan YETKINER, 2012. "A Remark on the Form of Accumulation Functions in Economic Growth Models," Ege Academic Review, Ege University Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, vol. 12(4), pages 467-473.
- O10 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General
- O15 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
- O41 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models
This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:
- NEP-ALL-2012-05-02 (All new papers)
- NEP-DGE-2012-05-02 (Dynamic General Equilibrium)
- NEP-FDG-2012-05-02 (Financial Development & Growth)
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