IMF Working Papers

Human Capital Convergence: International Evidence

By Randa Sab, Stephen C. Smith

March 1, 2001

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Randa Sab, and Stephen C. Smith Human Capital Convergence: International Evidence, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2001) accessed November 24, 2024
Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary

In the growth literature, evidence on income convergence is mixed. In the development literature, health and education indicators are also often used. This study examines whether health and education levels are converging across countries and calculates their convergence speed, using data from 100 countries during 1970–96. A 3SLS procedure is used in a joint analysis of human capital convergence. The results confirm that investments in education and health are closely linked. We find unconditional convergence for life expectancy and infant survival, and enrollment rates, on average and by gender; and conditional convergence for all human capital indicators, including class size.

Subject: Education, Gender, Health, Human capital, Labor, National accounts, Personal income, Women

Keywords: Asia and Pacific, Convergence, Convergence rate, Education, Education capital, Enrollment rate, Growth, Health, Human capital, Middle East, North Africa, Personal income, Primary education, Standard deviation, Sub-Saharan Africa, Survival rate, Teacher-pupil ratio, Western Hemisphere, Women, WP

Publication Details

  • Pages:

    34

  • Volume:

    ---

  • DOI:

    ---

  • Issue:

    ---

  • Series:

    Working Paper No. 2001/032

  • Stock No:

    WPIEA0322001

  • ISBN:

    9781451845112

  • ISSN:

    1018-5941