Economic Growth and Convergence: Testing Theories of Decreasing Returns Versus Theories of Technological Transfer

Why do many of the world's poorer economies fail to catch-up with the developed economies, whereas some have caught up spectacularly? This project undertakes a systematic analysis of economic growth and the contributions of investment and technology transfer. The use of panel data allows econometric analysis of within-country (time-series) and across-country convergence processes, addressing a hotly contested area of economic research. The project is significant not only for testing competing theories about the underlying processes of economic growth but also for defining policies to improve rates of economic growth in both less-developed and industrialised economies.