Life During Structural Transformation
This study uses a model to survey data for Malawi
Abstract
The authors examine whether structural transformation leads to a Kuznets curve. They present a dynamic general equilibrium model with heterogeneous workers, occupational self-selection and selective migration, and calibrate the model to survey data for Malawi. They show that structural transformation raises living standards unevenly. As development proceeds,the movement of workers from agriculture is associated with rising wage inequality, rather than a Kuznets curve. The increase in sectoral wage inequality is pronounced for agriculture. At the same time, structural transformation is associated with major reductions in rural poverty, and eventually in urban poverty.
This work is part of the ‘Structural Change and Productivity Growth in Africa’ project
Citation
Temple, Jonathan, Ying, Huikang, 2014. Life During Structural Transformation. University of Bristol, Department of Economics Discussion Paper 14 / 650
Links
Life During Structural Transformation (PDF, 530KB)