Economic and Social Disparities across Subnational Regions of South America: A Spatial Convergence Approach

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

This paper studies the evolution of economic and social disparities across South America. By exploiting a novel multi-country subnational dataset, we evaluate the evolution of gross national income per capita (GNI) and the human development index (HDI) across 151 subnational regions over the 1990–2018 period. In particular, regional dynamics are evaluated through the lens of two spatial convergence models. The first model deals with the role of spatial dependence. Results indicate that for both GNI and HDI, there is an overall process of regional convergence. Furthermore, spatial dependence plays a significant role in this process. A spatial error specification suggests that spatial dependence accelerates the speed of convergence in some decades, but decelerates it in others. The second model deals with the role of spatial heterogeneity. Results indicate that for both GNI and HDI, the speed of convergence is largely heterogeneous across space and time. Moreover, economic and social disparities are characterized by multi-country spatial clusters that show both converging and diverging trends. Taken together, these results emphasize the importance of accounting for spatial dependence and heterogeneity when evaluating the dynamics of economic and social inequality in South America.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)582-605
Number of pages24
JournalStructural change and economic dynamics : SC+ED
Volume64
Issue number4
Publication statusPublished - 4 Jan 2022
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Scopus 85122240375
Mendeley 42840fd7-6da1-3a4b-94eb-84b851b737c5

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • Convergence, Human development, South America, Spatial dependence, Spatial heterogeneity