Regional economic disparities in Colombia

This paper advances the analysis of regional income convergence in Colombia, through the use of the income data recently estimated for the departments, the main subnational political units. The results show a polarization process between Bogota and the rest of the departments. The preponderance of Bogota during the pe- riod analyzed is also discussed: its per capita income is more than double that of the national average, and more than eight times the per capita income of the poorest de- partment, Choco. Persistence in the departmental per capita income ranking is obser- ved: Bogota is always ahead, while the departments in the periphery are in the last pla- ces. The findings lead to the conclusion that it is necessary to design policies to correct the significant disparities in per capita income between Colombian regions.