Theory Of Growth Samuelson’s Model Essay, Research Paper

Few issues are as important to a country as the long-term growth and productivity trends facing their economy. The relative slow-down in the growth rates of the United States economy since 1973 has worried economists and politicians alike. Many possible causes have been put forth, though none is fully satisfactory.

Before discussing the theoretical models of growth it would be useful to study the data on growth that is currently available. As Nicholas Kaldor, in his influential article on growth (”Capital Accumulation and Economic Growth”; 1961) stated , a theorist ought to start with the summary of the facts that are immediately available, concentrating primarily on broad tendencies or “stylized facts.” Theories can then be constructed to explain the facts. Listed below are the stylized facts as mentioned by Kaldor:

1. Output per worker shows continuous growth.

2. Capital per worker shows continuous growth.

3. The rate of return on capital is steady.

4. The capital-output ratio is steady.

5. Labor and capital receive constant shares of total income.

6. There are wide differences in the rate of growth across countries.

In addition to the above, other researchers have found additional features which are obscure for a wide array of data:

7. Average growth rates show no variations with the level of per-capita income.

8. Growth in trade is positively correlated with income levels.

9. Population growth rates are negatively correlated with income levels.

10. The rate of growth of factors inputs is never large enough to explain the rate of growth; that is, technical progress is essential to growth.

Angus Maddison, in his book, Phases of Capitalistic Development 1982, lists in great detail the empirical aspects of growth during the past two hundred years. This study extends out on the whole Kaldor?s main observations. Both output and capital per worker has shown tremendous growth over time. Even though growth rates have slowed down since 1973, they are at levels still high by historic standards. Similarly, the constancy of the capital-output ratio is borne out by the statistical data of developed countries.

However, Kaldor?s assertion about the constancy of labor and capital shares in total income has increasingly been disputed. As the figures below show:

COUNTRYINTERVALSHARE OF CAPITAL (%)REFERENCES

Japan1913-193840Ohkawa and Rosovsky

1954-196431

United Kingdom1856-187341Matthews, Feinstein and

1873-191343Odling-Smee

1913-195133

1951-197327

United States1899-191935Kendrick

1919-195325

1929-195329

The data suggests that the share of capital has declined from around 40% to 30% over the course of the century.

Lastly, the great differences in growth rates between countries over time indicates that there has been no tendency for the convergence in rates of growth, something that the neo-classical theory would predict.

Having discussed the empirical issues of economic growth, we now turn to the various theories that have been developed to explain the facts. Perhaps the three most important theories of growth are:

1. Harrod-Domar model

2. Neoclassical theory of growth

3. Endogenous growth models

The Harrod-Domar model is an offshoot of Keynes? macroeconomic model as stated in the “General Theory.” Indeed, it can be viewed as an attempt to put Keynes? macroeconomic model of an economy in a dynamic context. From the fundamental relation that investment must equal saving in a closed economy, leads to the result that the rate of growth of an economy equals the product of the savings rate and the incremental output-capital ratio. The equations are:

I ? S

But, DK=I

Also, S=sY (s: savings rate)

Define n=DY/DK (incremental output-capital ratio)

This implies, DK=sY

But, DK=DY/n

Therefore, g?DY/Y=s?n (g?DY/Y: rate of growth of output)

Unfortunately, the Harrod-Domar model has a “knife-edge” property which made it somewhat unrealistic. This meant that if an economy strayed from its optimal growth path it either exploded or imploded. This lead to the search for alternative models, the most famous being the neo-classical growth model, usually associated with the infamous Robert Solow.

The neo-classical growth model assumes that the economy converges towards a steady-state rate of growth. Given a neo-classical production function:

Y=A?F(K, N)

Assuming a constant rate of labor force growth (DN/N=n) and no technical progress (DA/A=0) then in a steady state rate of growth of output (DY/Y) equals rate of population growth which implies there is no growth in per capita income unless technical progress takes place.

A critical difference between the Harrod-Domar model and the neoclassical growth model lies in the effect the savings rate has on growth rates. In the Harrod-Domar model an increase in the savings rate increases the growth rate. However, in the neo classical model, an increase in the savings rate increases the per capita income but it does not result in a permanent (as compared to a temporary) increase in the growth rate.

To summarize, in the neo-classical model the rate of output growth equals the rate of growth of technical progress (DA/A) and the level per capita output is determined by the steady-state equation:

sy=(d+n)k

where s: savings rate

y: per capita output

d: depreciation rate of capital stock

n: population growth rate

k: per capita capital stock

While Solow?s neo-classical model explains the first five out of the six stylized facts quite well, it cannot explain the fact that growth rates differ between countries for long periods of time. This model would suggest convergence in growth rates, something that does not seem to take place (see table).

To explain this problem, theorists have focused their attention on technical progress and have made attempts to make the growth rate endogenous (i.e. determined within the theory). Various endogenous growth theory models, proposed by economists like Robert Lucas and Paul Romer, have constructed a dynamic model where the rate of growth of output depends on aggregate stock of capital (both physical and human) and on the level of research and development in an economy. Many of the models are mathematically complex but do explain the persistent difference in growth rates between countries and the importance of research and human capital development in permanently increasing the growth rate of an economy.

Dornbusch, R. and Fischer, S. Macroeconomics. New York:McGraw Hill, 1994.

Kaldor, N. “Capital Accumulation and Economic Growth” in F.A. Lutz and D.C. Hague

(eds.), The Theory of Capital. New York: St. Martin?s Press, 1961.

Maddison, A. Phases of Capatalist Development. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1982.

Romer, P.M. “Capital Accumulation in the Theory of Long Run Growth.” In R. Barro

(ed.) Modern Business Cycle Theory. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1989.

Testing Samuelson?s Multiplier – Accelerator Interaction Model

The Fundamental Equations Are:

Yt = Ct + It + Go [Go is exogenous] — Definitional Equation.

Ct = gYt-1 [0