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Regional Growth in the United States: A Spatial Study of Convergence Comparing Real GSP per capita and the Human Development Index

Gillespie, Noah Nehemiah
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1271345694

Abstract Details

2010, Master of Arts, University of Toledo, Economics.
"Development" is a ubiquitous term that at one turn refers purely to regional or national economic growth, and at another refers to achieving a basic standard of living for all the people of the world. The dearth of reflection on these multiple meanings in the literature is further overshadowed by the absence of empirical study into the different implications of development, when considered through these various lenses.In this thesis, I strive to provide some analysis into the prevailing trends in two separate measures among the 48 contiguous United States over the period 1997-2006: real Gross State Product per capita (GSP) representing the "economic growth" paradigm, and the Human Development Index (HDI) representing a more holistic "quality of life" conception. Using the standard convergence equation popularized and rigorously defined by Barro and Sala-i-Martin (2004), I analyze whether there is convergence, divergence or stability in the distribution of GSP and HDI over this time period. I also experiment with three different model specifications: the standard non-linear model, a random effects panel model, and a spatial error panel model with random effects. Each specification, by relaxing some of the assumptions of the previous model, is found to provide a more realistic and nuanced picture of the true data generating process. I find that, over the study period, there is stability in GSP among the states, and that HDI is converging rapidly. I find further that all of the components of HDI are converging with the exception of the "command over resources" component, which is based on real GSP per capita. This implies that if prevailing trends continue, the quality of life experienced by the states in terms of health and education will rapidly approach equality, but that inequality in income is persistent, and should be the focus of policy aimed to increase equity among U.S. residents. I also find that there are significant spatial relationships among the states, and that controlling for these spatial effects greatly improves a model’s explanatory power.
Olugbenga Ajilore, PhD (Committee Chair)
David C. Black, PhD (Committee Member)
Oleg Smirnov, PhD (Committee Member)
87 p.
American Studies; Economics; Welfare
convergence; economic growth; development; human development index; spatial; United States; quality of life; well-being; inequality

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Citations

  • Gillespie, N. N. (2010). Regional Growth in the United States: A Spatial Study of Convergence Comparing Real GSP per capita and the Human Development Index [Master's thesis, University of Toledo]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1271345694

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Gillespie, Noah. Regional Growth in the United States: A Spatial Study of Convergence Comparing Real GSP per capita and the Human Development Index. 2010. University of Toledo, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1271345694.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Gillespie, Noah. "Regional Growth in the United States: A Spatial Study of Convergence Comparing Real GSP per capita and the Human Development Index." Master's thesis, University of Toledo, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1271345694

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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