Racial heterogeneity in the U.S. structural transformation and regional convergence

Structural transformation and regional convergence in USA income have been long standing trends.

Abstract

Structural transformation and regional convergence in USA income have been long standing trends. Caselli and Coleman (2001) discovered that 60% of regional convergence between the USA south and north from 1940 to 1990 is due to structural transformation. The authors replication confirms these robust findings. Examining black and white populations separately, they find the magnitude of the regional income convergence was much larger for the black workers and structural transformation explains most regional income convergence for white workers but only 30% for black workers. Extending the analysis until 2020, the authors observe income convergence among black workers and divergence among white workers. Structural transformation’s role in income convergence or divergence from 1990 to 2020 is negligible.

This is an output of the Structural Transformation and Economic Growth (STEG) programme.

Citation

Kim M and Lee M. ‘Racial heterogeneity in the U.S. structural transformation and regional convergence’ Structural Transformation and Economic Growth (STEG) WP086, 2024

Racial heterogeneity in the U.S. structural transformation and regional convergence

Updates to this page

Published 14 March 2024