Factor Accumulation and Trade: Dynamic Comparative Advantage with Endogenous Physical and Human Capital

Abstract

This paper develops a two country endogenous growth model with accumulation of both physical and human capital. We establish the existence of two country balanced growth equilibria in which physical and human capital grow at the same rate in each country but physical/human capital ratios differ across countries. These balanced growth equilibria satisfy a static and dynamic version of the Heckscher-Ohlin theorem. We also show the existence of unbalanced growth equilibria in which the static and dynamic Hechscher-Ohlin theorems can be violated. The multiplicity of paths with international trade results from the intertemporal no arbitrage condition in cases where trade results in an equalization of factor prices across countries.