Replication data for: Intermediate Goods and Weak Links in the Theory of Economic Development

What explains the enormous differences in incomes across countries? This paper returns to two old ideas: linkages and complementarity. First, linkages between firms through intermediate goods deliver a multiplier similar to the one associated with capital in a neoclassical growth model. Because the intermediate goods share of output is about one-half, this multiplier is substantial. Second, just as a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, problems along a production chain can sharply reduce output under complementarity. These forces considerably amplify distortions to the allocation of resources, bringing us closer to understanding large income differences across countries.(JEL: D57, E23, O1O, O47)

究竟是什么因素导致了各国间收入水平的巨大差异？本文回归两大经典理论视角：产业关联与互补性。其一，企业间通过中间品形成的产业关联，会催生类似新古典增长模型中资本所引致的乘数效应。由于产出中的中间品投入占比约为一半，该乘数效应十分显著。其二，正如链条的强度取决于最薄弱的一环，在互补性约束下，生产链条上的任一环节出现问题，都将大幅拉低总产出水平。上述两种机制会显著放大资源配置过程中的扭曲程度，从而帮助我们更精准地解释各国间存在的巨大收入差异。（JEL：D57、E23、O1O、O47）