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Are complementary reforms a “luxury” for developing countries?

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  • Braga de Macedo, Jorge
  • Oliveira Martins, Joaquim
  • Rocha, Bruno

Abstract

This paper investigates the impact of complementarity reforms on growth and how it depends on GDP per capita. Based on reform data for six policy areas compiled from various sources during the period 1994–2006 for over 100 countries, we compute composite indicators of reform level and complementarity. We provide qualitative justification for the existence of pair-wise complementarities among policy areas. We then use cross-section and panel data estimates to test the effect of reform level and complementarity on GDP per capita growth. We found reforms to be positively related and their dispersion (or the inverse of complementarity) negatively related to growth, controlling for initial conditions, monetary stability and other structural and institutional variables, as well as endogeneity of reform level and complementarity. We show that the effect of policy complementarity is a stronger condition for sustainable growth in developing than in advanced countries, to conclude that complementary reforms are not a ‘luxury’ for developing countries.

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  • Braga de Macedo, Jorge & Oliveira Martins, Joaquim & Rocha, Bruno, 2014. "Are complementary reforms a “luxury” for developing countries?," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(2), pages 417-435.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jcecon:v:42:y:2014:i:2:p:417-435
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jce.2013.06.003
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    Cited by:

    1. Jorge Braga de Macedo & Luís Brites Pereira, 2014. "Cape Verde and Mozambique as Development Successes in West and Southern Africa," NBER Chapters, in: African Successes, Volume IV: Sustainable Growth, pages 203-293, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Campos, Nauro F. & De Grauwe, Paul & Ji, Yuemei, 2017. "Structural Reforms, Growth and Inequality: An Overview of Theory, Measurement and Evidence," IZA Discussion Papers 11159, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Policy complementarities; Second-best; Structural reforms; Growth regressions; Developing countries;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C30 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - General
    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O40 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - General
    • P41 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Other Economic Systems - - - Planning, Coordination, and Reform

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