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Do institutions matter for economic growth?

Author

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  • Mingyang Li

    (Huazhong University of Science and Technology
    State University of New York at Binghamton)

  • Subal C. Kumbhakar

    (State University of New York at Binghamton)

Abstract

Using a unique dataset assembled from several sources, we examine the effects of democracy, corruption, and economic freedom on economic growth for over one hundred countries. To allow for heterogeneous effects, we use a quantile regression approach. Our results support some findings in the literature, but also provide some new conclusions. In many cases, quantile regression estimates are quite different from those from GMM. We find that the positive effect of democracy is lower for the countries with a higher growth rate of GDP per capita, which may sound counter-intuitive to conventional wisdom. Likewise, we find that corruption “sands the wheels” (“greases the wheels”) for the lowest (highest) GDP per capita growth countries. Economic freedom shows a positive effect on GDP per capita growth rate. Our results suggest that since democratic status is hard to change in the short run, certain current corruption control measures as well as economic freedom adjustment policies may be reconsidered, especially among the fastest and slowest growing countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Mingyang Li & Subal C. Kumbhakar, 2022. "Do institutions matter for economic growth?," International Review of Economics, Springer;Happiness Economics and Interpersonal Relations (HEIRS), vol. 69(4), pages 465-485, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:inrvec:v:69:y:2022:i:4:d:10.1007_s12232-022-00400-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s12232-022-00400-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cebula, Richard J. & Clark, J.R. & Mixon, Franklin G., Jr., 2013. "The Impact of Economic Freedom on Per Capita Real GDP: A Study of OECD Nations," Journal of Regional Analysis and Policy, Mid-Continent Regional Science Association, vol. 43(1).
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    4. Daron Acemoglu & Suresh Naidu & Pascual Restrepo & James A. Robinson, 2019. "Democracy Does Cause Growth," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 127(1), pages 47-100.
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    8. Manuel Vega-Gordillo & José L. à lvarez-Arce, 2003. "Economic Growth and Freedom: A Causality Study," Cato Journal, Cato Journal, Cato Institute, vol. 23(2), pages 199-215, Fall.
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    Cited by:

    1. Esther Acquah & Lorenzo Carbonari & Alessio Farcomeni & Giovanni Trovato, 2023. "Institutions and economic development: new measurements and evidence," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 65(4), pages 1693-1728, October.
    2. N. Nuzulman & Raja Masbar & B. S. Nazamuddin & M. Shabri Abd. Majid, 2023. "Does Democracy Matter for Economic Growth? Empirical Evidence from Indonesia," Economic Studies journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 7, pages 34-50.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Economic growth; Corruption; Democracy; Economic freedom; Arellano and Bond estimator and Quantile regression;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C21 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models
    • O43 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Institutions and Growth

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