One world several technologies ? A nonparametric test of club technology convergence

Empirical macroeconomics has highlighted the existence of technology clubs in the world. Are such clubs converging in terms of technological progress, and if so, at what speed? And, what is the role of technology convergence in output convergence? To answer these research questions, we here propose a pragmatic nonparametric test. Using a sample of 81 countries over the 1965–2014 period, we find that the ‘Advanced’ technology club defines the best practice technology in the world, and that the club of the ‘Followers’ but not the ‘Marginalized’ one shows technology convergence. Only in the ‘Followers’ indeed is technology convergence related to output convergence.