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Firm Profits and Government Activity: An Empirical Investigation

Author

Listed:
  • Dragan Tevdovski

    (Faculty of Economics, University Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Skopje, North Macedonia)

  • Joana Madjoska

    (National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia, Skopje, North Macedonia)

  • Petar Jolakoski

    (Association for Research and Analysis – ZMAI, Skopje, North Macedonia)

  • Branimir Jovanovic

    (Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, Vienna, Austria)

  • Viktor Stojkoski

    (Center for Collective Learning, Artificial and Natural Intelligence Institute, Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées, Toulouse, France, and Faculty of Economics, University Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Skopje, North Macedonia)

Abstract

Firm profits play a pivotal role in government activity. In times of crises, when profits are low, governments increase their size. Also, if firm profits rise to a level far above what would have been earned in a competitive economy, firms might gain market power, which in turn might influence the activity of the government. But are these changes in the activity of the government also efficient? In this paper, we perform a detailed empirical study on the potential effects of firm profits and markups on government size and effectiveness. Using data on 22 European countries for a period of 17 years and an instrumental variables approach, we find that there exists a robust relationship between firm gains and the activity of the state, in the sense that higher firm profits reduce government size and effectiveness. Even in a group of developed countries, such as the European countries, firm power may affect state activity.

Suggested Citation

  • Dragan Tevdovski & Joana Madjoska & Petar Jolakoski & Branimir Jovanovic & Viktor Stojkoski, 2022. "Firm Profits and Government Activity: An Empirical Investigation," Croatian Economic Survey, The Institute of Economics, Zagreb, vol. 24(1), pages 43-82, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:iez:survey:ces-v24_1-2022_tevdovski-madjoska-jolakoski-jovanovic-stojkoski
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    firm profits; government size; government effectiveness;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • H11 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Structure and Scope of Government
    • H50 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - General

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