Hi-Stat img
□ JAPANESE
□ HOME
. Project outline
Organization

Basic Concept

Staff

. Research
Discussion Papers
Database
. Announcements
Workshops
Lecture series
Newsletter
. Links
Hitotsubashi University

Hitotsubashi University Library

Institute of Economic Research

Research Centre for Information and Statistics of Social Science

ASHSTAT Project

Global Economic History Network

A Spatial Investigation of σ-Convergence in China


Kuan-Pin Lin, Zhi-He Long and Mei Wu


March, 2006


Previous paper Next paper
Abstract
Using techniques of spatial econometrics, this paper investigates σ-convergence of provincial real per capita gross domestic product (GDP) in China. The empirical evidence concludes that spatial dependence across regions is strong enough to distort the traditional measure of σ-convergence. This study focuses on the variation of per capita GDP that is dependent on the development processes of neighboring provinces and cities. This refinement of the conditional σ-convergence model specification allows for analysis of spatial dependence in the mean and variance. The corrected measure of σ-convergence in China indicates a lower level of dispersion in the economic development process. This implies a smaller divergence in real per capita GDP, although convergence across regions is still a challenging goal to achieve in the 2000s.
Download (410KB)
Copyright (C) 2003 by Institute of Economic Research.All rights reserved.