Convergence and divergence in regional agricultural productivity growth: evidence from Italian regions, 1951–2002
分析意大利1951-2002年区域农业全要素生产率增长的长期趋势，发现技术溢出是主要趋同力量，而规模或学习效应等分化力量几乎抵消了趋同效果，有助于理解生产率差异的持续性。
Abstract This article analyzes long‐term agricultural Total Factor Productivity (TFP) growth at regional level by testing its time‐series properties and identifying factors associated with divergence as opposed to convergence. The empirical application concerns Italian regions over the 1951–2002 time period. TFP growth decomposition ultimately attributes the observed productivity growth performance to these contrasting (convergence vs. divergence) forces. We find that technological spillovers are the key convergence force regardless of how the spillover effects are computed. At the same time, forces favoring convergence are almost offset by divergence forces (mainly scale or learning effects). This decomposition may explain the persistence of TFP growth rate differences in Italian agriculture, and could be applicable elsewhere.