Regional Economic Growth and Income Distribution in California

This paper uses the Solow and Kuznets models to help explain the pattern and differences in economic growth and income distribution in four major regions within California. Using county-level data from 1969 to 1999, I estimated that statewide real per-capita personal income has diverged (become more unequal). However, after controlling for regional affects, statewide income divergence becomes statistically insignificant. On a continuum, the data suggest that on average, the Central, Northern, Southern, and Coastal regions have the least to most well endowed composition of resources. The corresponding spatial division of labor across California's regions results in income inequality. Regional development policies should be diversified and coordinated to insure long-term success and not be overly reliant on one best approach. Policies are more likely to fail if they deviate from the local context. Regional economic development depends more on a partnership of local policy-makers, industry, labor unions and community leaders who can work together towards common goals