Explaining the regional economic heterogeneity in Ecuador (original) (raw)

Interregional Interdependence among Ecuadorian Provinces: An Input-Output Analysis

ERSA conference …, 2011

In this paper, we explore the structural characteristics of the interregional input-output system developed for Ecuador for the year 2007. As part of an ongoing project that aims to develop an interregional CGE model for the country, this database was developed under conditions of limited information. It provides the opportunity to better understand the spatial linkage structure associated with the national economy in the context of its 22 provinces, 15 sectors and 60 different products. This exploratory analysis is based on the description of structural coefficients and the use of traditional input-output techniques. Finally, we further explore the spatial linkage structure by looking at the regional decomposition of final demand. It is hoped that this exercise might result in a better appreciation of a broader set of dimensions that might improve our understanding of the integrated interregional economic system in Ecuador.

Sectoral Regional Growth and Convergence in Ecuador: An Analysis of the Intra-Distributive Dynamics of Productivity

Symmetry

The objective of this research is to examine growth and convergence processes in the provinces of Ecuador, considering sectoral productivity as an analysis variable. To do so, evidence of the productivity of the agricultural, secondary and service sectors is presented, and by applying the non-parametric method of density functions of the kernel, the complete distribution of the data is analyzed. The results obtained indicate that territorial inequality in Ecuador has very different behavior depending on the sectors of the economy. It is noted that inequality in terms of productivity is very high in the agricultural sector, it is at an average level in the secondary sector, and is less intense in the service sector. In the long-term, the overall balance is that sectoral inequality decreased among Ecuadorian provinces. However, there are two processes differentiated in time; in the first phase, inequality decreases more rapidly and in the second phase, it even increases in some sector...

Spatial Economic Convergence and Public Expenditure in Ecuador

Symmetry

In Ecuador, the sectorial policies, public policies and state investment, increase the presence of polarized and polycentric territories with very heterogeneous characteristics and with asymmetric levels of economic growth and development. The explanation for the unequal growth of regions in Ecuador is determined by the existence of different types of asymmetries; that determine economic dynamics and non-convergent development processes. The aim of this research is to determine the effect of an increase in public spending on physical infrastructure and education, on the improvement of productive conditions and on the process of reducing disparities (convergence) at the regional level in Ecuador. To do this, the hypothesis of beta convergence will be tested, which is conditioned by the proxy variables of public expenditure or investment in infrastructure and education at provincial level, for the 2001–2015 period. The results show the existence of a "slight" process of conv...

Territorial Growth in Ecuador: The Role of Economic Sectors

Ecuador is a developing country characterised by severe territorial disparities, reflected in a heterogeneous economic and social geography that risk to undermine a future balanced development. The paper analyses for the first time the impact of main economic sectors on subnational growth process in the context of the “Changing Productive Matrix” policy objective, which aims to achieve productive diversification based on adding value through a deconcentration the production from the existing poles to the whole territory. The estimation is performed using new data provided by Central Bank of Ecuador for period 2007-2014 through a panel econometric technique. The results prove that, despite the strategy aimed at changing the productive matrix pushed by the government, this process is far to be completed. In particular the country is too much focussed into low productive sectors which depress economic growth and the manufacture and financial services sectors are too much concentrated in few areas, preventing their possible positive effect into the whole economy.

Regional economic disparities in Colombia

2008

This paper advances the analysis of regional income convergence in Colombia, through the use of the income data recently estimated for the departments, the main subnational political units. The results show a polarization process between Bogotá and the rest of the departments. The preponderance of Bogotá during the pe- riod analyzed is also discussed: its per capita income is more

Colombian Regions: Competitives or COMPLEMENTARIES?1

This paper analyses the characteristics of interregional competition and complementarity in Colombia during the period 1960 - 2000. The analysis is based on an application of the Dendrinos-Sonis model which is estimated using the SUR estimator. The evidence shows a country with a low level of integration among the different regions and a high level of competition. The regions that have the major proportion of national GDP - Bogotá, West-Central and Pacific - exhibit a competitive relationship, and the New Departments which is the region with the larger GDP growth rate in the last decades shows only a significant relationship with itself. These findings are consistent with the observe income polarization process. Policy makers must take into account the competitive regional relationships to propose adequate policies such as the adoption of regional redistribution strategies, or other interventions that might enhance regional interaction and integration.

The effect of regional specialization on local economic activity: A study of Chile

Papers in Regional Science, 1974

Recent concern with increasing disparities between rich and poor nations has been paralleled by attention to differences in living standards among regions within nations. Accelerated development of lagging regions has been advocated both to meet pressures from the lagging regions themselves and as a means to promote national interests, for example, through the expansion of markets. While in richer countries the means to promote regional development are often available, this is usually not the case in poor countries where, given limited resources and possible conflicts between national efficiency and the particular interests of lagging regions, the promotion of regional development is a delicate and complex issue. However, it is our contention that hidden potential for regional growth lies in many poor regions themselves, and that national policy should be designed to build on such potential.

Cantonal convergence in Ecuador: A spatial econometric perspective

Journal of Applied Economic Sciences, 2015

The paper analyses the convergence process of Ecuadorian cantons during the period 2007-2012 accounting for the role of spatial spillovers through spatial econometric tool. The advantage of this technique is to provide a reliable estimation because it takes into account the spatial interaction in the territory. In addition, it allows identifying clusters of cantons characterised by similar spatial patterns that can be interpreted as convergence clubs because they represent areas with similar initial conditions in the “basin of attraction” that, according to economic theory, converge to a common steady state equilibrium. The results highlight that a convergence process is present, but it involves the cluster of most developed cantons. This opens various policy implications related to i) the capacity of cantons to take advantage from the positive dynamics of neighbours, ii) the persistence of development in some circumscribed areas, and iii) the spatial unbalanced development.

Canton growth in Ecuador and the role of spatial heterogeneity

CEPAL Review, 2019

This paper identifies the determinants of per capita gross value added (GVA) growth in Ecuador during the 2007-2015 period, using a spatial extension of the Mankiw, Romer and Weil (MRW) model. Because as a country Ecuador is characterized by deep territorial socioeconomic imbalances, estimates using classical techniques that measure average or "global" effects would not be as justifiable and would have limited political implications. Accordingly, this study uses a spatial filtering technique, which is a recent evolution of geographically weighted regression (GWR), to account for the spatial heterogeneity of the coefficients of a growth regression that explicitly considers both physical and human capital. The results show that Ecuadorian cantons have a wide range of convergence rates and that the effect of physical and human capital varies across space.