Profitability trap and Big Push: an analysis based on Rosenstein-Rodan

Abstract

This paper presents a situation of a profitability trap as a theoretical explanatory mechanism for the condition of economic stagnation that occurs in certain economies, especially those in development. Using theoretical contributions from Paul Rosenstein-Rodan, the event of a Big Push is defended as a possibility to overcome this condition, to generate a minimum level of capital and to allow the emergence of increasing returns to labor, via learning gains. The main conclusion is that these gains are fundamental to generate a virtuous circle that will improve the industrialization process and guide the economy towards higher income levels.

Keywords:
Rosenstein-Rodan; Big Push; Profitability trap; Learning; Increasing returns