The spatial dimension of take-offs and sustainability: The case of East Asian countries

This study examines the relationship between the size of a country and its “take-off” for economic development. We find that most countries which experienced economic upheavals in the past decades are relatively small in terms of area. Specifically, take-offs appear to be quicker for smaller landmasses with larger potential workforce and higher population density, controlled for financial markets maturity, corporate governance, economic openness, and human capital development. We also find that take-offs are not sustainable by nature as most countries in East Asia that which experience take-offs are currently facing slow-downs of their economies. Through this finding, we predict that China may experience a slow-down at around 36% and may reach to the 50-60% of income level of the U.S.