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Key determinants of civil liberty: a spatial analysis of 175 countries for the year 2010

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  • Coro CHASCO
  • Maricruz LACALLE-CALDERON
  • Javier ALFONSO-GIL

Abstract

This paper analyzes the current causes of differences worldwide in civil liberty, defined as the individual right to make decisions without interference within a given vital space. To this end, we employ the Civil Liberty Gastil Index from Freedom House in a spatial autoregressive model estimated from a sample of 175 countries for the year 2010. The empirical results show that the differing levels of civil liberty among the world’s countries are mainly determined by four leading explanatory variables: oil wealth, digital city, religious culture, and geographical proximity to neighboring countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Coro CHASCO & Maricruz LACALLE-CALDERON & Javier ALFONSO-GIL, 2017. "Key determinants of civil liberty: a spatial analysis of 175 countries for the year 2010," Applied Econometrics and International Development, Euro-American Association of Economic Development, vol. 17(2), pages 19-32.
    • Handle: RePEc:eaa:aeinde:v:17:y:2017:i:2_2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Civil liberty; Internet; religion; geography; spatial econometrics.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C21 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models
    • C31 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models; Quantile Regressions; Social Interaction Models
    • D02 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Institutions: Design, Formation, Operations, and Impact
    • O43 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Institutions and Growth
    • P48 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Other Economic Systems - - - Legal Institutions; Property Rights; Natural Resources; Energy; Environment; Regional Studies

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