TY - JOUR
T1 - Sigma Convergence versus Beta Convergence: Evidence from U.S. County-Level Data
AU - Young, Andrew
AU - Higgins, Matthew J
AU - Levy, Daniel
PY - 2008/8
Y1 - 2008/8
N2 - In this paper we outline (i) why sigma-convergence may not accompany beta-convergence, (ii) discuss evidence of sigma-convergence in the U.S., and (iii) use U.S. county-level data containing over 3,000
cross-sectional observations to demonstrate that sigma-convergence cannot be detected at the countylevel
across the U.S., or within the large majority of the individual U.S. states considered
separately. Indeed, in many cases statistically significant -divergence is found.
AB - In this paper we outline (i) why sigma-convergence may not accompany beta-convergence, (ii) discuss evidence of sigma-convergence in the U.S., and (iii) use U.S. county-level data containing over 3,000
cross-sectional observations to demonstrate that sigma-convergence cannot be detected at the countylevel
across the U.S., or within the large majority of the individual U.S. states considered
separately. Indeed, in many cases statistically significant -divergence is found.
M3 - Article
SN - 0022-2879
SP - 1083
EP - 1093
JO - Journal of Money, Credit, and Banking
JF - Journal of Money, Credit, and Banking
ER -