4. The catch-up effect
Consider the economies of Sporon and Gobbledigook, both of which produce glops of gloop using only tools and workers. Suppose that, during the course of 30 years, the level of physical capital per worker rises by 4 tools per worker in each economy, but the size of each labor force remains the same.
Complete the following tables by entering productivity (in terms of output per worker) for each economy in 2019 and 2049.
Year |
Sporon |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|
Physical Capital |
Labor Force |
Output |
Productivity |
|
(Tools per worker) |
(Workers) |
(Glops of gloop) |
(Glops per worker) |
|
2019 | 7 | 30 | 3,000 | |
2049 | 11 | 30 | 3,600 |
Year |
Gobbledigook |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|
Physical Capital |
Labor Force |
Output |
Productivity |
|
(Tools per worker) |
(Workers) |
(Glops of gloop) |
(Glops per worker) |
|
2019 | 4 | 30 | 2,400 | |
2049 | 8 | 30 | 3,600 |
Initially, the number of tools per worker was higher in Sporon than in Gobbledigook. From 2019 to 2049, capital per worker rises by 4 units in each country. The 4-unit change in capital per worker causes productivity in Sporon to rise by a amount than productivity in Gobbledigook. This illustrates the effect.
Year |
Sporon |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|
Physical Capital |
Labor Force |
Output |
Productivity |
|
(Tools per worker) |
(Workers) |
(Glops of gloop) |
(Glops per worker) |
|
2019 | 7 | 30 | 3,000 | 3000/30=100 |
2049 | 11 | 30 | 3,600 | 3600/30=120 |
Year |
Gobbledigook |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|
Physical Capital |
Labor Force |
Output |
Productivity |
|
(Tools per worker) |
(Workers) |
(Glops of gloop) |
(Glops per worker) |
|
2019 | 4 | 30 | 2,400 | 2400/30=80 |
2049 | 8 | 30 | 3,600 | 3600/30 = 120 |
From 2019 to 2049, capital per worker rises by 4 units in each country. The 4-unit change in capital per worker causes productivity in Sporon to rise by a smaller[(120-100=20)vs(120-80)=40] amount than productivity in Gobbledigook. This illustrates the catch-up effect.
Catch up effect = poorer countries have higher potential to grow faster than the richer ones
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