Factor accumulation and total factor productivity growth: ASEAN economies

Abstract

This study examines the contribution of factor accumulation on Total Factor Productivity (TFP) growth in the eight ASEAN countries with specific reference to short-term and long-term estimation effect. Using Mean Group (MG) estimator on data between 1990 and 2018, this study found a significant relationship between capital accumulation and TFP growth. Our analysis suggests that the positive growth on TFP in most ASEAN countries was due to the short-run effect of capital accumulation. This study also found that the ASEAN economies have a relatively lower rate of capital utilization that adversely affects TFP growth in the long run. The contribution of TFP to output growth is paramount for the sustainability of long-term economic growth. Thus, ASEAN countries need to accelerate capital accumulation and technology adoption in the short-term and utilize idle capital in the long-term.