<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> Economic growth and convergence remains a topical issue. This study uses a crisp-set qualitative comparative analysis of data from European Union countries in order to establish which conditions could be considered necessary and sufficient to make these countries converge. Based on six different conditions (GDP, secondary education, life expectancy, fertility rate, government consumption and inflation rate), this study finds that the main conditions affecting convergence are government consumption ratio (lower levels will increase convergence), education levels and life expectancy (both with a positive influence on convergence). The first two conditions show quite interesting results: in fact, reduction of government expenditure and budget constraints are an open debate; and the European Union’s aim to become a more competitive economy can only be attained with higher levels of education.</p></abstract>

Economic growth and convergence remains a topical issue. This study uses a crisp-set qualitative comparative analysis of data from European Union countries in order to establish which conditions could be considered necessary and sufficient to make these countries converge. Based on six different conditions (GDP, secondary education, life expectancy, fertility rate, government consumption and inflation rate), this study finds that the main conditions affecting convergence are government consumption ratio (lower levels will increase convergence), education levels and life expectancy (both with a positive influence on convergence). The first two conditions show quite interesting results: in fact, reduction of government expenditure and budget constraints are an open debate; and the European Union’s aim to become a more competitive economy can only be attained with higher levels of education.

GDP growth and convergence determinants in the European Union: a crisp-set analysis

CEFAGE-UE, IIFA, Universidade de Évora, Largo dos Colegiais 2, 7000 Évora, Escola Superior Agrária de Elvas, Instituto Politécnico de Portalegre,

CEFAGE-UE, IIFA, Universidade de Évora, Largo dos Colegiais 2, 7000 Évora,

Review of Economic Perspectives

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Economic growth and convergence remains a topical issue. This study uses a crisp-set qualitative comparative analysis of data from European Union countries in...

GDP growth and convergence determinants in the European Union: a crisp-set analysis

Published Online: Dec 17, 2016

Page range: 279 - 296

Received: May 06, 2016

Accepted: Sep 23, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/revecp-2016-0017

Keywords
Convergence, crisp-set qualitative comparative analysis, European Union, necessary conditions, sufficient conditions

© by Paulo Ferreira

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

GDP growth and convergence determinants in the European Union: a crisp-set analysis

Published Online: Dec 17, 2016

Page range: 279 - 296

Received: May 06, 2016

Accepted: Sep 23, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/revecp-2016-0017

KeywordsConvergence, crisp-set qualitative comparative analysis, European Union, necessary conditions, sufficient conditions

© by Paulo Ferreira

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
Convergence, crisp-set qualitative comparative analysis, European Union, necessary conditions, sufficient conditions