Short-Term/Long-Term Analysis of the Differences in Total Factor Productivity in East and West Asia: A Study of the Main and Interaction Effects

Abstract

The present study examines the main and interaction effects of the variables that affect the total factor productivity (TFP) in East and West Asian countries. To this end, this paper provides a short-term and long-term analysis of the factors affecting productivity differences in these countries during the period 1998-2018. According to the results, the main factors that influence the increase in productivity in both the short-term and long-term in East Asia are the share of fossil fuels use, good governance, oil rents, and human capital, respectively; while the most important factors in increasing productivity in West Asia are good governance and trade openness, respectively. Correspondingly, the share of fossil fuels use, human capital, oil rents, foreign direct investment, trade openness, and financial development have been the most important factors in the difference in productivity in East and West Asian countries in both short-term and the long-term. Moreover, good governance has increased the productivity of all factors in West Asian countries (in the short-term), and in East Asian countries (in the long-term). Furthermore, in West Asian countries, in both short-term and long-term, the interaction effect of good governance and oil rents has increased the TFP; also, the interaction effect of human capital and oil rents has reduced the TFP, while the interaction of human capital and foreign direct investment had no effect on the TFP.