Productivity growth and convergence: a stochastic frontier analysis

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to assess the effect of human capital development on regional productivity growth and convergence in the Spanish provinces over the period 1991-2006.

Design/methodology/approach
– The stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) methodology is used to estimate production inefficiencies. This approach enables the assessment of the degree to which a given region’s observed output deviates from the maximal possible. Therefore, the resulting region specific productive efficiencies are modelled as outcomes of the level of human capital. A β-convergence equation for the regional efficiency levels is also estimated to detect any signs of regional catching-up.

Findings
– The results show that increasing levels of human capital development are associated with lower regional inefficiency. All levels of education contributed to reduce the inefficiency levels, however, secondary schooling played a stronger role than primary and even higher education. There is also evidence of regional convergence towards the best practice frontier through a process that is beneficially aided by human capital development.

Originality/value
– The paper combines the use of the SFA to study the effect of human capital on regional productivity with the estimation of a β-convergence equation for the obtained regional efficiency levels.