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The Empirical Economic Growth Literature: Robustness, Significance and Size

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  • Raymond Florax
  • Henri L.F. De Groot
  • Reinout Heijungs

Abstract

The empirical economic growth literature is criticized for its lack of robustness. For different definitions of robustness, conclusions vary from ?almost every correlation is fragile? to ?a substantial number of explanatory variables are robust.? We re-analyze the empirical results of the economic growth literature for various alternative definitions of robustness using quasi-experiments. The analysis pertains to sign, size and significance of the effects, and we relax the quasi-experimental procedure by no longer applying a set of ?fixed? variables. Response surface analyses of the quasi-experiments reveal that the number of robust variables is limited, the effects crucially depend on the specification of conditioning variables, and the default specification based on the convergence/catch-up model is associated with estimated effects of conditioning variables that constitute outliers.

Suggested Citation

  • Raymond Florax & Henri L.F. De Groot & Reinout Heijungs, 2003. "The Empirical Economic Growth Literature: Robustness, Significance and Size," ERSA conference papers ersa03p540, European Regional Science Association.
    • Handle: RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa03p540
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    Cited by:

    1. Ramajo, Julián & Márquez, Miguel A. & Hewings, Geoffrey J.D. & Salinas, María M., 2008. "Spatial heterogeneity and interregional spillovers in the European Union: Do cohesion policies encourage convergence across regions?," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 52(3), pages 551-567, April.
    2. Victor Montuenga-Gomez & Melchor Fernandez & Andres Romeu, 2007. "The Link Between Wages and Productivity in Spain," International Review of Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(2), pages 247-272.
    3. Bengtsson, Mikael & Berggren, Niclas & Jordahl, Henrik, 2005. "Trust and Growth in the 1990s: A Robustness Analysis," Ratio Working Papers 60, The Ratio Institute.

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