The Balassa-Samuelson effect is an economic theory that explains the relationship between productivity, wage levels, and price levels across countries. It posits that in countries with higher productivity in the tradable goods sector, wages tend to be higher, leading to increased demand for non-tradable goods, which in turn raises their prices. This phenomenon results in a higher overall price level in more productive countries compared to less productive ones.
Mathematically, if represents the price level of tradable goods and the price level of non-tradable goods, the model suggests that:
where is the overall price level. The theory implies that differences in productivity and wages can lead to variations in purchasing power parity (PPP) between nations, affecting exchange rates and international trade dynamics.
Start your personalized study experience with acemate today. Sign up for free and find summaries and mock exams for your university.