IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/ise/remwps/wp02972023.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

The nexus between economic freedom and economic growth in the LDCs. An empirical analysis for the period 2000-2021

Author

Listed:
  • António Afonso
  • M. Carmen Blanco-Arana

Abstract

Economic freedom and economic growth can be connected in most countries, but it is often necessary to specify those aspects of economic freedom that can foster economic growth. This paper examines the nexus between economic freedom and economic growth in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) using panel data for the period 2000-2021. Results show that, in general, economic freedom positively influences economic growth in the LDCs. Moreover, most economic freedom factors raise economic growth. However, the effect of government spending, fiscal and financial freedom on economic growth is negative. Using a Principal Component Analysis for the economic freedom sub-indicators confirms the results.

Suggested Citation

  • António Afonso & M. Carmen Blanco-Arana, 2023. "The nexus between economic freedom and economic growth in the LDCs. An empirical analysis for the period 2000-2021," Working Papers REM 2023/0297, ISEG - Lisbon School of Economics and Management, REM, Universidade de Lisboa.
    • Handle: RePEc:ise:remwps:wp02972023
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://rem.rc.iseg.ulisboa.pt/wps/pdf/REM_WP_0297_2023.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    Other versions of this item:

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Atish Ghosh & Steven Phillips, 1998. "Warning: Inflation May Be Harmful to Your Growth," IMF Staff Papers, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 45(4), pages 672-710, December.
    2. Hausman, Jerry A & Taylor, William E, 1981. "Panel Data and Unobservable Individual Effects," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 49(6), pages 1377-1398, November.
    3. Robert G. King & Ross Levine, 1993. "Finance and Growth: Schumpeter Might Be Right," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 108(3), pages 717-737.
    4. Levine, Ross & Zervos, Sara, 1998. "Stock Markets, Banks, and Economic Growth," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 88(3), pages 537-558, June.
    5. de Haan, Jakob & Sturm, Jan-Egbert, 2000. "On the relationship between economic freedom and economic growth," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 16(2), pages 215-241, June.
    6. T. S. Breusch & A. R. Pagan, 1980. "The Lagrange Multiplier Test and its Applications to Model Specification in Econometrics," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 47(1), pages 239-253.
    7. Ross Levine & Norman Loayza & Thorsten Beck, 2002. "Financial Intermediation and Growth: Causality and Causes," Central Banking, Analysis, and Economic Policies Book Series, in: Leonardo Hernández & Klaus Schmidt-Hebbel & Norman Loayza (Series Editor) & Klaus Schmidt-Hebbel (Se (ed.),Banking, Financial Integration, and International Crises, edition 1, volume 3, chapter 2, pages 031-084, Central Bank of Chile.
    8. Hausman, Jerry, 2015. "Specification tests in econometrics," Applied Econometrics, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), vol. 38(2), pages 112-134.
    9. Andrzej Kacprzyk, 2016. "Economic freedom–growth nexus in European Union countries," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(7), pages 494-497, May.
    10. Doucouliagos, Chris & Ulubasoglu, Mehmet Ali, 2006. "Economic freedom and economic growth: Does specification make a difference?," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 22(1), pages 60-81, March.
    11. Mohammed Ershad Hussain & Mahfuzul Haque, 2016. "Impact of Economic Freedom on the Growth Rate: A Panel Data Analysis," Economies, MDPI, vol. 4(2), pages 1-15, March.
    12. Compton, Ryan A. & Giedeman, Daniel C. & Hoover, Gary A., 2011. "Panel evidence on economic freedom and growth in the United States," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 27(3), pages 423-435, September.
    13. Ejike Udeogu, 2016. "Financialisation and economic growth in Nigeria," Review of African Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(149), pages 489-503, July.
    14. Hichem Dkhili & Lassad Ben Dhiab, 2018. "The Relationship between Economic Freedom and FDI versus Economic Growth: Evidence from the GCC Countries," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-17, November.
    15. Thorsten Beck & Asli Demirgüç-Kunt & Ross Levine, 2007. "Finance, inequality and the poor," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 12(1), pages 27-49, March.
    16. Mariusz Prochniak & Katarzyna Wasiak, 2017. "The impact of the financial system on economic growth in the context of the global crisis: empirical evidence for the EU and OECD countries," Empirica, Springer;Austrian Institute for Economic Research;Austrian Economic Association, vol. 44(2), pages 295-337, May.
    17. Thorsten Beck & Asli Demirgüç-Kunt & Ross Levine, 2000. "A New Database on the Structure and Development of the Financial Sector," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 14(3), pages 597-605, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. António Afonso & M. Carmen Blanco-Arana, 2018. "Financial Development and Economic Growth: A Study for OECD Countries in the Context of Crisis," Working Papers REM 2018/46, ISEG - Lisbon School of Economics and Management, REM, Universidade de Lisboa.
    2. Afonso, António & Blanco-Arana, M. Carmen, 2024. "Does financial inclusion enhance per capita income in the least developed countries?," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    3. António Afonso & M. Carmen Blanco-Arana, 2022. "Financial and economic development in the context of the global 2008-09 financial crisis," International Economics, CEPII research center, issue 169, pages 30-42.
    4. Assi, Ala Fathi & Zhakanova Isiksal, Aliya & Tursoy, Turgut, 2020. "Highlighting the connection between financial development and consumption of energy in countries with the highest economic freedom," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    5. Yongfu Huang & Jonathan Temple, 2005. "Does external trade promote financial development?," Bristol Economics Discussion Papers 05/575, School of Economics, University of Bristol, UK.
    6. Pietrovito, Filomena, 2009. "Investment decisions, price-earnings ratios and finance. Evidence from firm-level data," Economics & Statistics Discussion Papers esdp09054, University of Molise, Department of Economics.
    7. Alberto Bucci & Simone Marsiglio, 2019. "Financial development and economic growth: long‐run equilibrium and transitional dynamics," Scottish Journal of Political Economy, Scottish Economic Society, vol. 66(3), pages 331-359, July.
    8. Yilmaz Bayar & Djula Borozan & Marius Dan Gavriletea, 2021. "Banking sector stability and economic growth in post‐transition European Union countries," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(1), pages 949-961, January.
    9. Brei, Michael & Ferri, Giovanni & Gambacorta, Leonardo, 2023. "Financial structure and income inequality," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    10. Salifou Ouedraogo & Hamidou Sawadogo, 2022. "Financial development, financial structure and economic growth in the Sub‐Saharan African countries," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(3), pages 3139-3162, July.
    11. Gimet, Céline & Lagoarde-Segot, Thomas, 2012. "Financial sector development and access to finance. Does size say it all?," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 13(3), pages 316-337.
    12. Herwartz, Helmut & Walle, Yabibal M., 2014. "Determinants of the link between financial and economic development: Evidence from a functional coefficient model," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 417-427.
    13. Vighneswara Swamy & Munusamy Dharani, 2021. "Thresholds in finance–growth nexus: Evidence from G‐7 economies," Australian Economic Papers, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(1), pages 1-40, March.
    14. Seven, Unal & Coskun, Yener, 2016. "Does financial development reduce income inequality and poverty? Evidence from emerging countries," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 34-63.
    15. Hatra Voghouei & M. Azail & Siong Law, 2013. "The effect of dynamic legal tradition on financial development: panel data evidence," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 35(1), pages 109-136, February.
    16. Hunjra, Ahmed Imran & Islam, Faridul & Verhoeven, Peter & Hassan, M. Kabir, 2022. "The impact of a dual banking system on macroeconomic efficiency," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    17. Huang, Ho-Chuan (River) & Fang, WenShwo & Miller, Stephen M., 2014. "Does financial development volatility affect industrial growth volatility?," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 307-320.
    18. Agapova, Anna & Vishwasrao, Sharmila, 2020. "Financial sector foreign aid and financial intermediation," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    19. Ivana Brkić & Nikola Gradojević & Svetlana Ignjatijević, 2020. "The Impact of Economic Freedom on Economic Growth? New European Dynamic Panel Evidence," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-13, February.
    20. Cândida Ferreira, 2021. "Financial development and macroeconomic performance: a panel data approach," Working Papers REM 2021/0173, ISEG - Lisbon School of Economics and Management, REM, Universidade de Lisboa.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    economic freedom; economic growth; LDCs; financial development; panel data;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • G10 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - General (includes Measurement and Data)
    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General
    • O43 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Institutions and Growth

    NEP fields

    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:ise:remwps:wp02972023. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sandra Araújo (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://rem.rc.iseg.ulisboa.pt/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.