DEMOGRAPHIC DYNAMICS AND THE EMPIRICS OF ECONOMIC-GROWTH

This paper examines the effects of demographic dynamics on the measured rates of economic growth. It develops a model of production with labor productivity that varies with age. Macroeconomic and demographic data ape used to estimate the relative productivity of different age groups. A panel database of effective labor supply is constructed in order to reflect the changing age structure of the population. The historical measured growth rates are then deconstructed into effects of demographic dynamics and into ''real'' growth rates, net of demographic effects.