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Cited by 301Economic Growth and ProductivityEconomic Theory and PolicyEconomic Growth and Development

The Anatomy of Start-Stop Growth

Jones, Benjamin F., Olken, Benjamin A.·2008·Review of Economics and Statistics
DOI 10.1162/rest.90.3.582
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Abstract

This paper investigates the remarkable extremes of growth experiences within countries and the changes that occur across growth transitions. We find two main results. First, virtually all but the very richest countries experience both growth miracles and failures over substantial periods. Second, growth accelerations and collapses are asymmetric phenomena. Collapses typically feature reduced investment amidst increasing price instability, whereas growth takeoffs are primarily associated with large expansions in international trade. The results show that even very poor countries regularly grow rapidly, but sustaining growth is difficult and may pose a very different set of challenges than starting it. Copyright by the President and Fellows of Harvard College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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Crossref · 10.1162/rest.90.3.582

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48 of 48 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Future economic growth alone will not eliminate extreme poverty in developing countries.

    “While future growth should continue to reduce poverty, it will not solve the problem by itself-both because a substantial amount of poverty remains even in rapidly growing countries, and because sustained economic growth over decades of the type seen in China is the exception, not the norm ( Jones and Olken 2008).”

    From Universal Basic Incomes versus Targeted Transfers: Anti-Poverty Programs in Developing Countries (2018) · cites this paper as Jones and Olken 2008

  • The level and composition of exports is particularly important for economic growth.

    “Research suggests that the level and composition of exports is particularly important for economic growth ( Jones and Olken 2008; Hausmann, Pritchett, and Rodrick 2005)”

    From Using Natural Resources for Development: Why Has It Proven So Difficult? (2016) · cites this paper as Jones and Olken 2008

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Related

Authors
Jones, B. F., & Olken, B. A.
Affiliations
  • Northwestern University (US)
  • National Bureau of Economic Research (US)
ORCID
Venue
Review of Economics and Statistics
Publisher
MIT Press - Journals
Published
2008-08
Volume
90
Issue
3
Pages
582-587
ISSN
  • 0034-6535 (ISSN-L)
  • 1530-9142
DOI
10.1162/rest.90.3.582
OpenAlex
W1963914954
Cited by
301
References
50
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 23 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 40 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 19
FWCI
43.73
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • The Review of Economics and Statistics (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Economic Growth and Productivity
  • Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › General Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economic Theory and Policy
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Economic Growth and Development
Keywords
economic growth, growth miracles, growth failure, growth acceleration, international trade, investment, price instability, growth transitions, developing countries, growth sustainability

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