Productivity and Convergence in OECD Service Industries

The objective of this paper is threefold. First, to estimate the productivity performances realized in service and manufacturing industries by 13 OECD countries over the period 1970-1987. Secondly, to compare the productivity indicators computed under the alternative frontier analysis and Divisia index approaches. Thirdly, to test the convergence phenomenon in both industries, focusing on the catching-up process and on the interaction between productivity changes and capital intensity variations. The main results show that, contrary to the manufacturing sector and in spite of very low growth rates, productivity levels converge in services. Moreover, new investments in capital appear to exert an unexpected depressive effect on total factor productivity growth in service activities, while having a positive influence in manufacturing industries

Regional Convergence in the European Community

This paper assesses convergence in output per head across regions in the European Community (EC), for the period 1975 90. We use three alternative methodologies to measure convergence, which yield consistent results. We observe that there are strong differences in the pattern of convergence across sub-periods and across subsets of regions. If Southern Europe seemed to catch up in the early 1980s, it stagnated, at best, in the second part of the 1980s. The regions in Northern Europe, on the other hand, tended to stagnate or diverge in the first part of the 1980s but converge strongly thereafter. This pattern is consistent with the view that North European countries have adjusted better to the main change in policy regimes which occurred in the mid-1980s, namely the implementation of the Single Market programme and the entry of Spain and Portugal into the EC in 1985. This evidence also lends support to the view that trade liberalization can exacerbate disparities. Finally, our evidence indicates that the distinction between the North and the South of the EC is likely to be more relevant in the analysis of growth patterns than the distinction between the centre and the periphery. Preliminary evidence on migration indicates that the population in the Southern regions responds much more slowly to wage and unemployment differences. This may partly explain why Southern regions have not converged after 1985.Convergence; European Community; Regions

European Integration and Regional Growth

European integration and regional grow This objective of this paper is to assess whether the process of European integration bas reduced income disparities among regions in the Community. We observe that if the South of Europe seems to catch up in the early eighties, it stagnates, at best, in the second part of the eighties. At the opposite, the regions in the North of Europe tend to stagnate or diverge in the first part of the eighties but converge strongly thereafter. This pattern is consistent with the view that Northern European countries have adjusted better to the implementation of the internai market programme and the entry of the Iberian peninsula in the Community in 1985. This evidence also lends support to the view that trade liberalisation can exacerbate disparities. Preliminary evidence suggests that a lack of adjustment in regional labour markets may explain this pattern.European Integration and Regional Growth L'objectif de cette contribution est d'évaluer le processus de convergence entre les régions de la Communauté et d'essayer de mesurer l'impact du process d'intégration sur les disparités régionales de revenu par tête. Nous observons un processus de rattrapage dans le Sud de l'Europe au début des années quatre-vingt qui semble cependant s'arrêter à partir de 1985. À l'inverse, les régions du Nord de Europe, qui semblent stagner au début de la décennie, amorcent un processus de convergence rapide à partir de 1985. Il semblerait donc que les régions du Nord de l'Europe se sont mieux adaptées à la mise en œuvre du marché intérieur et à l'accession des pays du Sud à partir du milieu de la décennie. Ces observations semblent confirmer l'hypothèse selon laquelle la libéralisation des échanges et du mouvement des facteurs peut exacerber les disparités régionales. Une absence d'ajustement sur les marchés régionaux du travail semble pouvoir expliquer en partie la dichotomie Nord-Sud que nous observons.Neven Damien, Gouyette Claudine, Pisani-Ferry Jean. European Integration and Regional Growth. In: Revue économique, volume 45, n°3, 1994. pp. 703-713

European Integration and Regional Growth

[fre] European Integration and Regional Growth. . L'objectif de cette contribution est d'évaluer le processus de convergence entre les régions de la Communauté et d'essayer de mesurer l'impact du process d'intégration sur les disparités régionales de revenu par tête. Nous observons un processus de rattrapage dans le Sud de l'Europe au début des années quatre-vingt qui semble cependant s'arrêter à partir de 1985. À l'inverse, les régions du Nord de Europe, qui semblent stagner au début de la décennie, amorcent un processus de convergence rapide à partir de 1985. Il semblerait donc que les régions du Nord de l'Europe se sont mieux adaptées à la mise en œuvre du marché intérieur et à l'accession des pays du Sud à partir du milieu de la décennie. Ces observations semblent confirmer l'hypothèse selon laquelle la libéralisation des échanges et du mouvement des facteurs peut exacerber les disparités régionales. Une absence d'ajustement sur les marchés régionaux du travail semble pouvoir expliquer en partie la dichotomie Nord-Sud que nous observons. [eng] European integration and regional grow. . This objective of this paper is to assess whether the process of European integration bas reduced income disparities among regions in the Community. We observe that if the South of Europe seems to catch up in the early eighties, it stagnates, at best, in the second part of the eighties. At the opposite, the regions in the North of Europe tend to stagnate or diverge in the first part of the eighties but converge strongly thereafter. This pattern is consistent with the view that Northern European countries have adjusted better to the implementation of the internai market programme and the entry of the Iberian peninsula in the Community in 1985. This evidence also lends support to the view that trade liberalisation can exacerbate disparities. Preliminary evidence suggests that a lack of adjustment in regional labour markets may explain this pattern.