TOTAL FACTOR PRODUCTIVITY CONVERGENCE CASE OF THE WESTERN BALKAN COUNTRIES

Abstract

This study examines Total Factor Productivity (hereinafter TFP) convergence in the Western Balkan countries (Republic of Slovenia-SL, Republic of Croatia-CR, Republic of Serbia-SR, and the Republic of Srpska-RS). Our analysis will cover the time period 2000- 2018. Our goal here is threefold. First, we will estimate the TFP for selected countries, and to do so, we will apply the growth accounting. Second, we will use the development accounting to test for the unconditional catching up. And third, we will test the country’s ability to learn or absorb new technology from the more advanced leader through the ``technology gap`` and ``technology spillovers``. In our survey, we will assume, apriori, that most developed country is Slovenia, followed by Croatia, Serbia, and the Republic of Srpska.