Discussion of Delay | Stagnationist Model | The Harrod-Domar Model | Coale-Hoover Model | Components of Demographic Growth |

The Basic Kelley Model

 The Basic Kelley Model

 Contents:

 The Effect of Per Capita Income

Kelley assumed that at low levels of per capita income, the rate of growth of per capita income would fall (as per capita income rose as predicted by the neoclassical growth model). At middle levels of per capita income, the growth rate of per capita income would be positively associated with per capita income (as predicted by endogenous growth theory). At very high levels of per capita income, the relationship would again be inverse as predicted by neoclassical growth theory.

 
   

 The Partial Effect of Population Growth

If there were no change in per capita GDP (Y/P), then an increase in the rate of population growth would reduce the rate of per capita income growth. The magnitude of the effect depends on the time period. In the 1960s, (T1) the slope was less than 1. In the 1970s (T2) it was more than 1. In the 1980s, (T3) the effect was strongest. The slope was more than 2 as predicted by the Coale -Hoover model of India.

 
   

 The Interaction Effect

Kelley beleived that it was possible that population growth might have harmful effects on living standards at low levels of per capita income and have beneficial effects at higher levels of per capita income. Thus the interaction effect which treated the growth in per capita income as a function of the product of the growth rate of population and the level of per capita income was positive for all three time periods.

 
   

 Effect of a Lower Population Growth Rate

The blue line in this graph shows the effect of per capita income on the growth rate of per capita income assuming that the growth rate of population remains constant at the level of the developed countries (low). The red line shows the effect of per capita income on the growth rate of per capita income assuming that the growth rate of population remains constant at the level of the less developed countries (high). The econometric results indicate that Third World countries would benefit from lower rates of population growth, while the Industrialized countries might benefit from higher rates of population growth.

 

Back to the Top