Declining Predation during Development: a Feedback Process

Bethencourt, Carlos and Perera-Tallo, Fernando (2012): Declining Predation during Development: a Feedback Process.

Abstract

Empirical evidence suggests that poorer countries have larger portions of predation. We formulate a neoclassical growth model in which agents devote time either to produce or predate. When the elasticity of substitution between labor and capital is lower than one, the labor share rises with capital, reducing the incentive to predate and increasing the incentive to produce throughout the transition. Consequently, a feedback process between capital accumulation and predation arises which ampli¯es income di®erences generated by di®erences in productivity. Thus, this paper helps understand why di®erences among countries have remained stable and the key role that institutions play in development.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Predation, Labor share, Development
• Subjects: O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O4 - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity > O41 - One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O4 - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity > O43 - Institutions and Growth

References

Various