Publication Type

Working Paper

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

8-2014

Abstract

We incorporate wealth heterogeneity and the minimum investment requirements in the model of Matsuyama (2004, Econometrica) and provide a complete characterization of symmetry breaking. In particular, we identify the extensive margin of investment as a key channel through which the interest rate may respond positively to capital accumulation, or equivalently, the interest rate can be higher in the rich than in the poor countries. Then, financial market globalization may lead to “uphill” capital flows from the poor to the rich countries, which widens the initial cross-country income gap and leads to income divergence among inherently identical countries, a phenomenon that Matsuyama calls symmetry breaking.

Keywords

Financial frictions, financial market globalization, minimum investment requirements, symmetry breaking

Discipline

Econometrics | Finance

Research Areas

Econometrics

First Page

1

Last Page

30

Copyright Owner and License

Authors

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