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How much economic freedom is necessary for economic growth? Theory and evidence

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  • Morris Altman

    (University of Saskatchewan)

Abstract

The hypothesis that economic freedom and related variables are significant determinants of real per capita income and growth is critically evaluated. Economic freedom is found necessary for higher levels of per capita income and growth largely in terms of threshold effects as opposed to persistent marginal effects. More economic freedom does not appear to yield higher levels of per capita income. And securing particular levels of economic freedom does not guarantee higher levels of per capita income or growth. Secure private property rights is found to be a most significant positive causal variable as is sound money, whereas moderate amounts of labor regulation and big government are not found to be bad for the economy. Also, good corporate governance, in addition to economic freedom, is of considerable import. Unlike most studies, traditional statistical methods are supplemented by graphical analysis in an effort to determine threshold values for economic freedom and its components.

Suggested Citation

  • Morris Altman, 2008. "How much economic freedom is necessary for economic growth? Theory and evidence," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 15(2), pages 1-20.
    • Handle: RePEc:ebl:ecbull:eb-07o10037
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    1. Czeglédi, Pál, 2009. "A tulajdonjogi biztonság szerepe a technológia elterjedésében [The role of property-law security in the spread of technology]," Közgazdasági Szemle (Economic Review - monthly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Közgazdasági Szemle Alapítvány (Economic Review Foundation), vol. 0(9), pages 790-813.
    2. Joshua Hall & Robert Lawson, 2008. "Theory and evidence on economic freedom and economic growth: A comment," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 15(18), pages 1-6.
    3. Hakimi, Abdelaziz & Hamdi, Helmi & Khemiri, Mohamed Ali, 2023. "Banking in the MENA region: The pro-active role of financial and economic freedom," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 45(5), pages 1058-1076.
    4. Chowdhury, M. Ashraful Ferdous & Haque, M. Mahmudul & Alhabshi, Syed Othman & Masih, Abul Mansur M., 2016. "Socioeconomic Development and Its Effect on Performance of Islamic Banks: Dynamic Panel Approaches," MPRA Paper 71888, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Lous, Bjorn, 2020. "On free markets, income inequality, happiness and trust," Other publications TiSEM e2480eed-722b-4e2a-8e29-4, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    6. Noha Emara (a) and Loreto Reyes Rebolledo (b), 2021. "Economic Freedom and Economic Performance: Does Good Governance Matter? The Case of APAC and OECD Countries," Journal of Economic Development, Chung-Ang Unviersity, Department of Economics, vol. 46(1), pages 1-32, March.
    7. Johan Graafland & Bart Compen, 2015. "Economic Freedom and Life Satisfaction: Mediation by Income per Capita and Generalized Trust," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 789-810, June.
    8. Johan Graafland & Bjorn Lous, 2018. "Economic Freedom, Income Inequality and Life Satisfaction in OECD Countries," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 19(7), pages 2071-2093, October.
    9. Morris Altman, 2009. "The transition process from alternative theoretical prisms," International Journal of Social Economics, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 36(7), pages 716-742, June.
    10. Judit Kapás & Pál Czeglédi, 2017. "Institutions and policies of economic freedom: different effects on income and growth," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 34(2), pages 259-282, August.
    11. Fadzlan Sufian, 2014. "The Nexus between Economic Freedom and Islamic Bank Performance: Empirical Evidence from the MENA Banking Sectors," Contemporary Review of the Middle East, , vol. 1(4), pages 411-439, December.
    12. Lin, Kun-Li & Doan, Anh Tuan & Doong, Shuh-Chyi, 2016. "Changes in ownership structure and bank efficiency in Asian developing countries: The role of financial freedom," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 19-34.
    13. Tudorel ANDREI & Ani MATEI & Ion Gh. ROSCA, 2009. "The Corruption - An Economic and Social Analysis," Economics Books, The Economica Publishing House, edition 1, volume 1, number 03, December.
    14. Asteriou, Dimitrios & Pilbeam, Keith & Tomuleasa, Iuliana, 2021. "The impact of corruption, economic freedom, regulation and transparency on bank profitability and bank stability: Evidence from the Eurozone area," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 150-177.
    15. Faisal Abbas & Shoaib Ali, 2022. "Is Economic Freedom a Moderator of the Relationship Between Bank Capital and Profitability?," Scientific Annals of Economics and Business (continues Analele Stiintifice), Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, vol. 69(2), pages 273-292, June.
    16. Sufian, Fadzlan & Habibullah, Muzafar Shah, 2010. "Does economic freedom fosters banks’ performance? Panel evidence from Malaysia," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 6(2), pages 77-91.
    17. Miron Wolnicki, 2009. "The post‐conservative orphan: why the USA needs an effective government economic policy," International Journal of Social Economics, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 36(1/2), pages 5-22, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    economic freedom;

    JEL classification:

    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development
    • B4 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Economic Methodology

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