Neoclassical growth with endogenous age distribution. Poverty vs low-fertility traps as steady states of demographic transitions

B-Tier
Journal: Journal of Population Economics
Year: 2013
Volume: 26
Issue: 4
Pages: 1457-1484

Authors (3)

Luciano Fanti (Università degli Studi di Pisa) Mimmo Iannelli (not in RePEc) Piero Manfredi (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

0.670 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

Compared to other factors, the role of the age distribution of the population as a key endogenous determinant of economic growth trajectories has traditionally been overlooked. This is unrealistic, especially when dealing with major epochs of structural change, such as demographic transitions. We set up a model combining a simple representation of the economy, based on the neoclassical growth model of Solow, with a comprehensive representation of population dynamics. The model is used to investigate the structure of balanced growth states of the population and the economy in the presence of demographic transitions. The analysis shows that proper inclusion of age structure enriches the spectrum of the long-run equilibria of the neoclassical model, allowing up to five states of balanced growth, and shows the onset of “poverty” and “low-fertility” traps as different facets of fertility transitions. The role of different timing of fertility, mortality and savings transitions, and of more realistic demography of capital, is also considered. Copyright Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:spr:jopoec:v:26:y:2013:i:4:p:1457-1484
Journal Field
Growth
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-25