Catching-up and falling behind: Accounting for success and failure over time

Why do some countries succeed in catching-up while others fall behind? This question has intrigued policymakers, academics and industrialists alike for more than a century. At the extremes, the long-run trend since the Industrial Revolution seems to be towards divergence, not convergence, in productivity and income. But what history shows is that some countries have managed to catch-up, even overtake the leaders at different points in time, and when this has happened, technology and the environment that fosters it regularly turn up among the driving forces.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Decent Work and Economic Growth