Distribution Dynamics: Stratification, Polarisation and Convergence Among OECD Economies, 1870-1992

Since the 1980s the debate about economic convergence hasdominated empirical work about the dynamics of growth. Economichistorians have been attracted, in particular, by stories of clubconvergence. However, the analytical foundations of most of the work inthis area have rested on linear, or more usually log-linear, regressionanalysis. Thus, the results tend to be dependent on a conditional averagein which time is the dominant player. This is surprising as space, andissues of distribution, have long been important to both theorists andhistorians.[...]