TY - JOUR
T1 - Credit constraints and economic growth in a dual economy
AU - Skott, Peter
AU - Gómez-Ramírez, Leopoldo
PY - 2018/6/1
Y1 - 2018/6/1
N2 - Pervasive credit constraints have been seen as major sources of slow growth in developing economies. This paper clarifies a mechanism through which an inefficient financial system can reduce productivity growth. Using a two-sector model, second, we examine the implications for employment and the distribution of income. Both classical and Keynesian versions of the model are considered; saving decisions are central in the classical version while firms’ investment and pricing decisions take center stage in the Keynesian version. We find that, although boosting the asymptotic rate of growth, a relaxation of credit constraints may reduce the share of the formal sector, increase inequality and underemployment, and have little or no effect on the medium-run rate of growth.
AB - Pervasive credit constraints have been seen as major sources of slow growth in developing economies. This paper clarifies a mechanism through which an inefficient financial system can reduce productivity growth. Using a two-sector model, second, we examine the implications for employment and the distribution of income. Both classical and Keynesian versions of the model are considered; saving decisions are central in the classical version while firms’ investment and pricing decisions take center stage in the Keynesian version. We find that, although boosting the asymptotic rate of growth, a relaxation of credit constraints may reduce the share of the formal sector, increase inequality and underemployment, and have little or no effect on the medium-run rate of growth.
KW - Credit constraints
KW - Dual economy
KW - Income distribution
KW - Productivity growth
KW - Underemployment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85042852389&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.strueco.2018.02.003
DO - 10.1016/j.strueco.2018.02.003
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85042852389
SN - 0954-349X
VL - 45
SP - 64
EP - 76
JO - Structural Change and Economic Dynamics
JF - Structural Change and Economic Dynamics
ER -