Suggested Citation:
Mendez Carlos (2020). Classical Sigma and Beta Convergence Analysis in R: Using the REAT 2.1 Package. R Studio/RPubs. Available at https://rpubs.com/quarcs-lab/classical-convergence-reat21
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International License.
Load the Data
Let us use a dataset containing the per-capita GDP of 152 Countries over 34 years (Phillips and Sul, 2009). The data is from the package ConvergenceClubs
Sigma convergence for two periods (ANOVA): 1970 and 2003
For a description of the function and method see the online documentation
Let us measure the dispersion as \(SD[Ln(Y)]\)
## Sigma convergence for two periods (ANOVA)
## Estimate F value df1 df2 Pr (>F)
## SD 1970 1.0878 NA NA NA NA
## SD 2003 1.2602 NA NA NA NA
## Quotient 0.8631 0.745 151 151 0.07149
Sigma convergence for multiple periods (Trend regression)
For a description of the function and method see the online documentation
## Sigma convergence (Trend regression)
## Estimate Std. Error t value Pr(>|t|)
## Intercept -9.437331 0.73507 -12.84 0.000000000000036224
## Time 0.005335 0.00037 14.42 0.000000000000001503
## Model summary
## Estimate F value df 1 df 2 Pr (>F)
## R-Squared 0.8666 207.9 1 32 0.000000000000001503
Linear trend regression
Non-linear trend regression
## `geom_smooth()` using method = 'loess' and formula 'y ~ x'
An increasing dispersion implies a lack of sigma convergence
Beta convergence: 1970-2003 period
betaconv_ols <- betaconv.ols (GDP$Y1970,
1970,
GDP$Y2003,
2003,
conditions = NULL,
beta.plot = TRUE,
beta.plotLine = TRUE,
beta.plotLineCol = "red",
beta.plotX = "Ln (initial)",
beta.plotY = "Growth",
beta.plotTitle = "Beta convergence",
beta.bgrid = TRUE,
beta.bgridType = "solid",
output.results = TRUE)
## Absolute Beta Convergence
## Model coefficients (Estimation method: OLS)
## Estimate Std. Error t value Pr (>|t|)
## Alpha 0.599668 0.40368 1.4855 0.1395
## Beta -0.012594 0.04948 -0.2545 0.7995
## Lambda 0.000384 NA NA NA
## Halflife 1804.843243 NA NA NA
## Model summary
## Estimate F value df 1 df 2 Pr (>F)
## R-Squared 0.0004316 0.06477 1 150 0.7995
Linear beta-convergence regression
Non-linear beta-convergence regression
## `geom_smooth()` using method = 'loess' and formula 'y ~ x'
The lack of statistical significance of the beta coefficient implies a lack of beta convergence
Research tasks
Evaluate sigma convergence using the coefficient of variation of GDP per capita. Are the results consistent with those using the standard deviation of the log of GDP per capita? Why is this the case?
Useful Reference: Ram, R., 2018. Comparison of cross-country measures of sigma-convergence in per-capita income, 1960–2010. Applied Economics Letters, 25(14), pp.1010-1014.
Evaluate how the beta convergence can change over time. In particular, evaluate and interpret the magnitude of the speed of convergence during after the 1990s.
Useful Reference: Patel, Sandefur and Subramanian (2018) Everything You Know about Cross-Country Convergence Is (Now) Wrong. Center for Global Development Blog.
Evaluate the role of population weights in the analysis convergence.
Useful Reference: Cole, M. A., & Neumayer, E. (2003). The pitfalls of convergence analysis: is the income gap really widening?. Applied Economics Letters, 10(6), 355-357.
END
---
title: "Classical Sigma and Beta Convergence Analysis in R:"
subtitle: "Using the REAT 2.1 Package"
author: "Carlos Mendez"
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```{r setup, include=FALSE}
knitr::opts_chunk$set(echo = TRUE)

library(tidyverse)
library(ConvergenceClubs) # convergence clubs
library(REAT)          # regional and economic analysis toolbox

# To install and load version 2.1.1 of REAT packages
#install.packages("devtools")
#library(devtools)
#remove.packages("REAT")
#install_version("REAT", version = "2.1.1", repos = "http://cran.us.r-project.org")
#library(REAT)

# Change the presentation of decimal numbers to 4 and avoid scientific notation
options(prompt="R> ", digits=4, scipen=999)
```



Suggested Citation: 

> Mendez Carlos (2020). Classical Sigma and Beta Convergence Analysis in R: Using the REAT 2.1 Package. R Studio/RPubs. Available at <https://rpubs.com/quarcs-lab/classical-convergence-reat21>

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International License. 
![](License.png)


# Preliminary Reading

- [Vollrath (2018) New evidence on convergence. The Growth Blog.](https://growthecon.com/blog/Convergence/) 

- [Johnson, P. and Papageorgiou, C., (2019). What Remains of Cross-Country Convergence?. Journal of Economic Literature (Forthcoming) ](https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/id/eprint/89355)

# Load the Data

Let us use a [dataset](https://rdrr.io/cran/ConvergenceClubs/man/GDP.html) containing the per-capita GDP of 152 Countries over 34 years (Phillips and Sul, 2009). The data is from the package [`ConvergenceClubs`](https://rdrr.io/cran/ConvergenceClubs/api/)

```{r}
data(GDP)
GDP
```


# Sigma convergence for two periods (ANOVA): 1970 and 2003 

For a description of the function and method see the [online documentation](https://rdrr.io/cran/REAT/man/sigmaconv.html)

Let us measure the dispersion as $SD[Ln(Y)]$


```{r}
sigma_anova_sd_log <- sigmaconv(
          GDP$Y1970,
          1970,
          GDP$Y2003,
          2003,
          sigma.measure = "sd",
          sigma.log = TRUE, # Fist take log of Y, and then do the analysis
          output.results = TRUE
          )
```

# Sigma convergence for multiple periods (Trend regression) 
 
For a description of the function and method see the [online documentation](https://rdrr.io/cran/REAT/man/sigmaconv.t.html)

```{r}
sigma_trend_sd_log <- sigmaconv.t(
  GDP$Y1970,
  1970,
  GDP[3:35],
  2003,
  sigma.measure = "sd",
  sigma.log = TRUE, # Fist take log of x, and then do the
  output.results = TRUE
  )
```

## Linear trend regression

```{r}
sigma_trend_sd_log[["sigma.trend"]] %>% 
  ggplot(aes(x = years, y = sigma.years)) +
  geom_line(size=1, linetype = "dashed") + 
  geom_smooth(method = lm) + 
  theme_minimal() +
  labs(subtitle = "SD[Log(GDP per capita)]",
       x = "",
       y = "")
```

## Non-linear trend regression

```{r}
sigma_trend_sd_log[["sigma.trend"]] %>% 
  ggplot(aes(x = years, y = sigma.years)) +
  geom_line(size=1, linetype = "dashed") + 
  geom_smooth() + 
  theme_minimal() +
  labs(subtitle = "SD[Log(GDP per capita)]",
       x = "",
       y = "")
```


An increasing dispersion implies a lack of sigma convergence


# Beta convergence: 1970-2003 period


```{r}
betaconv_ols <- betaconv.ols (GDP$Y1970,
              1970,
              GDP$Y2003,
              2003,
              conditions = NULL, 
              beta.plot = TRUE,
              beta.plotLine = TRUE, 
              beta.plotLineCol = "red", 
              beta.plotX = "Ln (initial)", 
              beta.plotY = "Growth", 
              beta.plotTitle = "Beta convergence", 
              beta.bgrid = TRUE, 
              beta.bgridType = "solid",
              output.results = TRUE)
```


## Linear beta-convergence regression

```{r}
betaconv_ols[["regdata"]] %>% 
  ggplot(aes(x = ln_initial, y = growth)) +
  geom_point() +
  geom_smooth(method = lm) + 
  theme_minimal() +
  labs(subtitle = "Growth of GDP per capita (1970-2003)",
       x = "Log of GDP per capita in 1970",
       y = "")
```

## Non-linear beta-convergence regression

```{r}
betaconv_ols[["regdata"]] %>% 
  ggplot(aes(x = ln_initial, y = growth)) +
  geom_point() +
  geom_smooth() + 
  theme_minimal() +
  labs(subtitle = "Growth of GDP per capita (1970-2003)",
       x = "Log of GDP per capita in 1970",
       y = "")
```


The lack of statistical significance of the beta coefficient implies a lack of beta convergence


# Research tasks

- Evaluate sigma convergence using the coefficient of variation of GDP per capita. Are the results consistent with those using the standard deviation of the log of GDP per capita? Why is this the case?

    > [Useful Reference](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13504851.2017.1391992): Ram, R., 2018. Comparison of cross-country measures of sigma-convergence in per-capita income, 1960–2010. Applied Economics Letters, 25(14), pp.1010-1014.

- Evaluate how the beta convergence can change over time. In particular, evaluate and interpret the magnitude of the speed of convergence during after the 1990s.

    > [Useful Reference](https://growthecon.com/blog/Convergence/): Patel, Sandefur and Subramanian (2018) Everything You Know about Cross-Country Convergence Is (Now) Wrong. Center for Global Development Blog.

- Evaluate the role of population weights in the analysis convergence.

    > [Useful Reference](http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/00000603/01/AppliedEconomicsLetters_10(6).pdf): Cole, M. A., & Neumayer, E. (2003). The pitfalls of convergence analysis: is the income gap really widening?. Applied Economics Letters, 10(6), 355-357.

END
