Graduation Year
2022
Date of Submission
12-2021
Document Type
Campus Only Senior Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Economics
Reader 1
Manfred Keil
Terms of Use & License Information
Rights Information
© 2021 May P Zaw
Abstract
One of the fundamental questions of our times, not only in the field of economics, but other social sciences as well, is why some countries are wealthier than others and what causes variations in their relative income status over time. This thesis searches for the key determinants that contribute to the Wealth of Nations or per capita income. As a byproduct, I investigate growth factors and look at convergence or catch-up of poorer nations. A neoclassical growth model is used as a theoretical framework to study cross-country convergence of 92 countries from 1970 to 2019. Special attention is paid to countries in the Mekong region. The empirical findings support the notion that GDP growth is dependent on higher levels of human capital, lower population growth, higher investment-output ratios, lower government spending, and political rights. Political rights have a weak effect on growth.
Recommended Citation
Zaw, May, "Key Determinants of Economic Growth: A Cross Country Study with Focus on the Mekong Sub-River Basin Regions" (2022). CMC Senior Theses. 2846.
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/2846
This thesis is restricted to the Claremont Colleges current faculty, students, and staff.
