Global Development, Trade, Human Capital, and Business Cycles

This paper generalizes the multi-country growth model with capital accumulation, human capital accumulation, economic structure and international trade by Zhang (2014) by making all the time-independent parameters in Zhang’s model as time-dependent parameters. Each national economy consists of one tradable, one non-tradable and one education sector. National economies are different in propensities to save, to obtain education and to consume, and in learning abilities. The model integrates the Solow growth model, the Uzawa two-sector growth model, the Uzawa-Lucas two-sector growth model, and the Oniki–Uzawa trade model within a comprehensive framework. Human capital accumulation is through education in the Uzawa-Lucas model, Arrow’s learning by producing, and Zhang’s learning by consuming (creative learning). The behavior of the household is described with an alternative approach to household behavior. We simulated the model to demonstrate existence of equilibrium points, motion of the dynamic system, and oscillations due to different exogenous shocks.

JEL classification: F1, F43, F44, J24, J11.