Question: In 1998, Brazil had a per capita GDP of about $4,500, compared to per capita GDP of about $28,000 in the US.
(A) If per capita growth were to average 2% per year indefinitely in the US and 5% per year in Brazil, how many years would it take Brazil to catch up with the US?
(B) Using the assumptions of the Cobb-Douglas production function, how fast would capital stock have to grow for per capita GDP to rise 5% per year? How does that compare with capital stock growth of 3% per year in the US (assume technology advances 1% per year in both countries)?
(C) In mature industrialized societies, the capital/output ratio is approximately 3.0. If the average depreciation rate is 0.04, what would be the current saving and investment ratio in the US? What would it be in Brazil if per capita GDP rose 5% per year?