Convergence as distribution dynamics (with or without growth)

Convergence concerns the poor catching up with the rich|if not instan- taneously, then at least having a tendency to do so. When poor and rich here refer to entire economies, then whether convergence occurs is traditionally viewed as just a side consequence of a more central ques- tion, namely that concerning the nature of economic growth. This paper argues instead that convergence itself is of direct interest. When conver- gence is made central and thus investigated, new theoretical issues and empirical insights emerge: this paper provides a brief overview of what those lessons are, and conjectures what next might be learnt.