Spatial Spillovers and Convergence clubs: The Role of Knowledge Diffusion in the Americas

Spatial Spillovers and Convergence clubs: The Role of Knowledge Diffusion in the Americas | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Spatial Spillovers and Convergence clubs: The Role of Knowledge Diffusion in the Americas Fernando Martin-Mayoral, Diego Borja, Pablo Cabrera-Barona This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6735258/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This paper examines how knowledge spillovers shape economic convergence across countries in the Americas between 1950 and 2019. Using spatial econometric models, including a Spatial Dynamic Durbin Model (SDDM) and a Spatial System Generalized Method of Moments (SGMMsys) estimator, that jointly accounts for spatial spillovers, dynamic endogeneity, and cross-sectional heterogeneity within a single framework, we explore how interdependencies in physical and human capital accumulation, as well as population growth, influence per capita income dynamics across borders. Our findings show that spatial effects significantly accelerate the rate of β-convergence, contributing to the emergence of "convergence clubs", clusters of countries with shared development trajectories. The results underscore the importance of regional cooperation, cross-border investment in human capital, and knowledge diffusion as catalysts for inclusive and sustainable development. Policy frameworks that promote spatially integrated strategies can help reduce persistent income disparities in Latin America and foster stronger regional economic integration. spatial econometrics knowledge spillovers convergence clubs Latin America SGMMsys Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Acknowledgements The authors would like to express their gratitude to FLACSO Ecuador for its support in the development of this research. Their resources, academic environment, and institutional backing were instrumental in completing this study. Declaration of Interest statement The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6735258","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":465180710,"identity":"4c688d65-438d-4ba3-920a-7d3cd0ceff9f","order_by":0,"name":"Fernando Martin-Mayoral","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA6ElEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBAC9gYQacAgx94OEzpAQAsPSMEBAwZjnsOkaWFgSOwhXovY4WefPxTcSe9hZn748UcFgxzfjQTGBz/waZFOM55xwOBZbg8zm7E0zxkGY8kbCcyGPXi02EsnGAP9cjh3PzODGTNjG0PihhsJbNJ4HSad/hmkJZ2Hmf0b4882hnqgFvbf+LXkgG1J4GHmMWPgbWNIMADawkxASzHDGYPDhj3MPMVAv0gYzjzzsFkSn1+ADtvMUPHnsDwPe/tGYIjZyPMdTz74AV+IoQMJIGZsIEHDKBgFo2AUjAJsAABOMEiHmpCD7AAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"","institution":"Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Fernando","middleName":"","lastName":"Martin-Mayoral","suffix":""},{"id":465180711,"identity":"6d8e4179-09f9-442a-9e94-8306626f34db","order_by":1,"name":"Diego Borja","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Diego","middleName":"","lastName":"Borja","suffix":""},{"id":465180712,"identity":"7aa6ff4c-e9bf-458f-96f1-e170dc2e6014","order_by":2,"name":"Pablo Cabrera-Barona","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Pablo","middleName":"","lastName":"Cabrera-Barona","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-05-23 19:08:17","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6735258/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6735258/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":84897409,"identity":"aa085270-4a88-4eb3-90e4-a7df7bca2ba3","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-06-18 14:09:13","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1085513,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Main.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6735258/v1_covered_128bd145-7645-4f30-9308-6bcfaff5f83c.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"\u003cp\u003eNo competing interests reported.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgements\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors would like to express their gratitude to \u003cstrong\u003eFLACSO Ecuador\u003c/strong\u003e for its support in the development of this research. 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