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Exceptional Argentina Di Tella, Glaeser and Llach - Thomas Piketty

Exceptional Argentina Di Tella, Glaeser and Llach - Thomas Piketty

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Figure 2. Educational attainment <strong>and</strong> per capita GDP<br />

120<br />

Primary school attendance, circa 1930<br />

100<br />

80<br />

60<br />

40<br />

20<br />

YUG<br />

ICEBUL MEX CR<br />

JAPGRE<br />

POL<br />

IRE<br />

SWE<br />

SPA NOR AUTGER<br />

CZE<br />

ARG<br />

ITA<br />

CHL<br />

HUN<br />

FIN<br />

FRA<br />

CANZ<br />

BEL<br />

DEN<br />

AUL<br />

NET<br />

UK<br />

PHL<br />

TW THA<br />

BRA<br />

GUA CHN R 2 = 0,8061<br />

SWI<br />

USA<br />

0<br />

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000<br />

Per capita GDP, 1929<br />

Figure 3. Life expectancy <strong>and</strong> per capita GDP<br />

70<br />

Life expectancy, circa 1930<br />

65<br />

60<br />

55<br />

50<br />

45<br />

40<br />

35<br />

30<br />

NOR SWE<br />

GER<br />

IRE<br />

FIN<br />

AUT<br />

ITA<br />

CZE<br />

ARG<br />

ICE<br />

SPA<br />

POL GRE<br />

HUN<br />

YUG<br />

JAP<br />

TW BUL<br />

GUA<br />

CHL<br />

PHL<br />

THA MEX<br />

CR<br />

BRA<br />

NZ<br />

AULNET<br />

DEN<br />

CAN UK<br />

BEL<br />

FRA<br />

SWI<br />

USA<br />

25<br />

CHN<br />

R 2 = 0,6887<br />

20<br />

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000<br />

Per capita GDP, 1929<br />

Education <strong>and</strong> health data for the late 1920s can be combined to build a primitive form of the<br />

Human Development Index (HDI). Recall the HDI weighs, with 1/3 each, educational, health<br />

<strong>and</strong> income variables. Each dimension varies between 0 <strong>and</strong> 1. In the case of income, the<br />

formula involves logarithms to reflect the declining marginal utility of income. The<br />

educational variable is itself a composite of literacy (2/3) <strong>and</strong> enrollment (1/3). In Figure 5 I<br />

present the HDI for 1930 using primary enrollment as the sole educational variable, as<br />

literacy rates are sketchier (although Crafts (1997) did use literacy rates for his compilation of<br />

historical HDI's). <strong>Argentina</strong> ranks #17 in this modified HDI ranking. Its higher income hardly<br />

compensates for its lower readings in health <strong>and</strong> education.

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