Is there convergence across countries? A spatial approach

Abstract

We analyze convergence across countries over the last half century as a result of globalizing forces. Drawing on theories of modernization, dependency, the world-system, political trade blocs, and the world-society, we consider economic, demographic, knowledge, financial, and political dimensions of convergence. Using a new methodology, we calculate the minimum volume ellipsoid encompassing different groupings of countries, finding that during the 1960–2009 period, countries have not evolved significantly closer or similar to one another, although groups of countries based on their core-periphery status or membership in trade blocs exhibit increasing internal convergence and divergence between one another.

Globalization and Contemporary Fertility Convergence

“…There is also a spatial aspect to the network—countries with similar characteristics like income or shared language are considered to be closer to each other. One can think of the global network as being embedded in a multidimensional space of characteristics of the countries (Berry, Guillén, and Hendi 2014). Participation in global institutions and the characteristics of nation-states are constantly evolving, path dependent, and mutually dependent.…”

Globalization and convergence–divergence of HRM across nations: New measures, explanatory theory, and non-standard predictions from bringing in economics

“…Paul Krugman recently won a Nobel prize for his theory development in both areas and some of the ideas presented below draw on his work (e.g., Krugman, 1991). Globalization, of course, also affects C-D trends through non-economic forces, such as sociological emulation and isomorphism (Berry et al, 2014), but these factors are put to the side here.…”

Varieties of institutional systems: A contextual taxonomy of understudied countries

“…Finally, while national institutions typically change slowly, research shows that institutional change does occur (Gingrich, 2015;Taras, Steel, & Kirkman, 2012;Berry, Guillén, & Hendi, 2014). As such, older typologies can become outdated as the institutional profile of nation-states shifts over time (Hotho, 2014;Hall & Gingerich, 2009).…”