The "V-Factor": Distribution, Timing and Correlates of the Great Indian Growth Turnaround

Following Bai (2004) and Bai and Ng (2004) we estimate a common factor representation of a panel of output series for India, disaggregated by 15 states and 14 broad industry groups. We find that a single common "V-Factor" accounts for a large part of the significant shift in the cross-sectional distribution of state-sectoral output growth rates since the mid -1980s. The time profile of the V-Factor appears to be closely related to trade liberalization.