Nothing Special   »   [go: up one dir, main page]
IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/jed/journl/v46y2021i1p1-32.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Economic Freedom and Economic Performance: Does Good Governance Matter? The Case of APAC and OECD Countries

Author

Listed:
  • Noha Emara (a) and Loreto Reyes Rebolledo (b)

    ((a) Rutgers University, U.S.A; (b) Columbia University, U.S.A)

Abstract
Economic freedom is an important determinant of economic growth and income distribution, which are key factors in facilitating economic development. The paper empirically investigates the relationship between economic freedom and economic performance in the APAC and OECD countries. A panel model with fixed effects technique is employed on yearly data for the period 1980-2017, using a number of measures of economic freedom covering the size of government, property rights, monetary policy, access to international trade, and regulation of credit labor, and businesses. The study also investigates the role of governance in affecting the impact of economic freedom on economic performance. The results of the study indicate that economic freedom positively affects economic performance in the selected countries after controlling for country- and time- fixed-effects. Additionally, the study finds that this positive impact is higher for the APAC than for the OECD countries. For APAC countries, a country’s size of government, expansionary monetary policy, and less regulation has a positive and statistically significant impact on its output per worker. Finally, the study finds that governance is a pre-condition for economic freedom, where the impact of economic freedom on economic performance is amplified by about five folds in the presence of better governance including the freedom of a country’s citizens in selecting governments and expressing their political views, political stability, enhanced quality of public services, and control of corruption.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:jed:journl:v:46:y:2021:i:1:p:1-32
    DOI: 10.35866/caujed.2021.46.1.001
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.jed.or.kr/full-text/46-1/1.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.35866/caujed.2021.46.1.001?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    Other versions of this item:

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Christina D. Romer & David H. Romer, 2004. "A New Measure of Monetary Shocks: Derivation and Implications," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 94(4), pages 1055-1084, September.
    2. Stephen Knack & Philip Keefer, 1997. "Does Social Capital Have an Economic Payoff? A Cross-Country Investigation," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 112(4), pages 1251-1288.
    3. Robert J. Barro, 1998. "Determinants of Economic Growth: A Cross-Country Empirical Study," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 1, volume 1, number 0262522543, April.
    4. Campos, Nauro F. & Nugent, Jeffrey B., 2002. "Who is afraid of political instability?," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(1), pages 157-172, February.
    5. Noha EMARA & I-Ming CHIU, 2016. "The Impact of Governance Environment on Economic Growth: The Case of Middle Eastern and North African Countries," Journal of Economics Library, KSP Journals, vol. 3(1), pages 24-37, March.
    6. 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.
    7. Morris Altman, 2008. "How much economic freedom is necessary for economic growth? Theory and evidence," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 15(2), pages 1-20.
    8. Steven B. Caudill & Fernando C. Zanella & Franklin G. Mixon, Jr., 2000. "Is Economic Freedom One Dimensional? A Factor Analysis of Some Common Measures of Economic Freedom," Journal of Economic Development, Chung-Ang Unviersity, Department of Economics, vol. 25(1), pages 17-40, June.
    9. David H. Romer & Jeffrey A. Frankel, 1999. "Does Trade Cause Growth?," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 89(3), pages 379-399, June.
    10. d’Agostino, Giorgio & Dunne, J. Paul & Pieroni, Luca, 2016. "Government Spending, Corruption and Economic Growth," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 190-205.
    11. Emara, Noha & El Said, Ayah, 2021. "Financial inclusion and economic growth: The role of governance in selected MENA countries," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 34-54.
    12. Osmel Brito-Bigott & Hugo J. Faría & José Miguel Rodríguez & Alejandro Sánchez, 2008. "Corruption and Complex Business Rules," Journal of Private Enterprise, The Association of Private Enterprise Education, vol. 24(Fall 2008), pages 1-16.
    13. repec:dgr:rugccs:199903 is not listed on IDEAS
    14. Berggren, Niclas, 2003. "The Benefits of Economic Freedom: A Survey," Ratio Working Papers 4, The Ratio Institute.
    15. Irwin, Douglas A. & Tervio, Marko, 2002. "Does trade raise income?: Evidence from the twentieth century," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 58(1), pages 1-18, October.
    16. International Monetary Fund, 2004. "Once Again, is Openness Good for Growth?," IMF Working Papers 2004/135, International Monetary Fund.
    17. James D. Gwartney & Randall G. Holcombe & Robert A. Lawson, 2004. "Economic Freedom, Institutional Quality,and Cross-Country Differences in Income and Growth," Cato Journal, Cato Journal, Cato Institute, vol. 24(3), pages 205-233, Fall.
    18. Selcuk Akcay, 2006. "Corruption and Human Development," Cato Journal, Cato Journal, Cato Institute, vol. 26(1), pages 29-48, Winter.
    19. Robert E. Hall & Charles I. Jones, 1999. "Why do Some Countries Produce So Much More Output Per Worker than Others?," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 114(1), pages 83-116.
    20. Noha Emara, 2012. "Inflation Volatility, Institutions, and Economic Growth," Global Journal of Emerging Market Economies, Emerging Markets Forum, vol. 4(1), pages 29-53, January.
    21. Sajjad Barkhordari & Maryam Fattahi & Naser Ali Azimi, 2019. "The Impact of Knowledge-Based Economy on Growth Performance: Evidence from MENA Countries," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 10(3), pages 1168-1182, September.
    22. Jac C. Heckelman, 2000. "Economic Freedom and Economic Growth: A Short-run Causal Investigation," Journal of Applied Economics, Universidad del CEMA, vol. 3, pages 71-91, May.
    23. Kaufmann, Daniel & Kraay, Aart & Mastruzzi, Massimo, 2005. "Governance matters IV : governance indicators for 1996-2004," Policy Research Working Paper Series 3630, The World Bank.
    24. Boockmann, Bernhard & Dreher, Axel, 2003. "The contribution of the IMF and the World Bank to economic freedom," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 19(3), pages 633-649, September.
    25. repec:bla:kyklos:v:53:y:2000:i:4:p:527-44 is not listed on IDEAS
    26. Oualid Lajili and Philippe Gilles, 2018. "Financial Liberalization, Political Openness and Growth in Developing Countries: Relationship and Transmission Channels," Journal of Economic Development, Chung-Ang Unviersity, Department of Economics, vol. 43(1), pages 1-27, March.
    27. Noha Emara & Loreto Reyes Rebolledo, 2019. "On the Relationship between Economic Freedom and Output per Worker: The Case of Asia-pacific Countries," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 9(6), pages 184-194.
    28. Karuna, Christo, 2007. "Industry product market competition and managerial incentives," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 43(2-3), pages 275-297, July.
    29. Jac C. Heckelman & Michael D. Stroup, 2000. "Whcich Economic Freedoms Contribute to Growth?," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(4), pages 527-544, November.
    30. Noha Emara & Mahmoud Mohieldin, 2020. "Financial inclusion and extreme poverty in the MENA region: a gap analysis approach," Review of Economics and Political Science, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 5(3), pages 207-230, July.
    31. Li, Pei & Lu, Yi & Wang, Jin, 2016. "Does flattening government improve economic performance? Evidence from China," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 18-37.
    32. de Haan, Jakob & Siermann, Clemens L J, 1998. "Further Evidence on the Relationship between Economic Freedom and Economic Growth," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 95(3-4), pages 363-380, June.
    33. Lee, Ha Yan & Ricci, Luca Antonio & Rigobon, Roberto, 2004. "Once again, is openness good for growth?," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(2), pages 451-472, December.
    34. Dalida Kadyrzhanova & Matthew Rhodes‐Kropf, 2011. "Concentrating on Governance," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 66(5), pages 1649-1685, October.
    35. Constantine Alexandrakis & Grigorios Livanis, 2013. "Economic Freedom and Economic Performance in L atin A merica: A Panel Data Analysis," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 17(1), pages 34-48, February.
    36. Robert Mundell, 1963. "Inflation and Real Interest," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 71(3), pages 280-280.
    37. Richard J. Cebula, 2011. "Economic Growth, Ten Forms of Economic Freedom, and Political Stability: An Empirical Study Using Panel Data, 2003–2007," Journal of Private Enterprise, The Association of Private Enterprise Education, vol. 26(Spring 20), pages 61-81.
    38. Emara, Noha & Jhonsa, Eric, 2014. "Governance and economic growth: The case of Middle Eastern and North African countries," MPRA Paper 68683, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Gibogwe, Vincent & Nigo, Ayine & Kufuor, Karen, 2022. "Institutional Quality And Economic Growth In Tanzania," MPRA Paper 115400, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Noha Emara & Daniela Zecheru, 2024. "Asymmetric threshold effects of digitization on inflation in emerging markets," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 10(1), pages 1-32, December.
    3. Gibogwe, Vincent & Nigo, Ayine R.S. & Kufuor, Karen, 2022. "Institutional Quality and Economic Growth in Tanzania," MPRA Paper 115486, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 28 Nov 2022.
    4. Victor Shevchuk & Roman Kopych, 2021. "Exchange Rate Volatility, Currency Misalignment, and Risk of Recession in the Central and Eastern European Countries," Risks, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-19, May.

    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. Tanin, Tauhidul Islam & Masih, Mansur, 2017. "Does economic freedom lead or lag economic growth? evidence from Bangladesh," MPRA Paper 79446, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. 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.
    3. Jac C. Heckelman & Stephen Knack, 2008. "Foreign Aid and Market‐Liberalizing Reform," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 75(299), pages 524-548, August.
    4. Vatcharin Sirimaneetham, 2006. "What drives liberal policies in developing countries?," Bristol Economics Discussion Papers 06/587, School of Economics, University of Bristol, UK.
    5. Niclas Berggren & Henrik Jordahl, 2005. "Does free trade really reduce growth? Further testing using the economic freedom index," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 122(1), pages 99-114, January.
    6. Henryk Gurgul & Łukasz Lach, 2011. "The Nexus between Improvements in Economic Freedom and Growth: Evidence from CEE Countries in Transition," Central European Journal of Economic Modelling and Econometrics, Central European Journal of Economic Modelling and Econometrics, vol. 3(3), pages 133-168, September.
    7. Gurgul, Henryk & Lach, Łukasz, 2011. "The nexus between economic freedom and growth: Evidence from CEE countries in transition," MPRA Paper 37434, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Mohammad Salam Ibrahim AlShiab & Husam-Aldin N. Al-Malkawi & Abdelmounaim Lahrech, 2020. "Revisiting the Relationship between Governance Quality and Economic Growth," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 10(4), pages 54-63.
    9. Olalekan Charles Okunlola & Anthony E. Akinlo, 2021. "Does economic freedom enhance quality of life in Africa?," International Review of Economics, Springer;Happiness Economics and Interpersonal Relations (HEIRS), vol. 68(3), pages 357-387, September.
    10. Richard J. Cebula & J.R. Clark, 2011. "Migration, Economic Freedom, and Personal Freedom: An Empirical Analysis," Journal of Private Enterprise, The Association of Private Enterprise Education, vol. 27(Fall 2011), pages 43-62.
    11. Richard J. Cebula, 2013. "Budget Deficits, Economic Freedom, and Economic Growth in OECD Nations: P2SLS Fixed-Effects Estimates, 2003–2008," Journal of Private Enterprise, The Association of Private Enterprise Education, vol. 28(Spring 20), pages 75-96.
    12. Kim, Dong-Hyeon & Lin, Shu-Chin & Suen, Yu-Bo, 2016. "Trade, growth and growth volatility: New panel evidence," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 384-399.
    13. Yasir Khan & Attiya Yasmin Javid, 2015. "The Impact of Formal and Informal Institutions on Economic Performance: A Cross-Country Analysis," PIDE-Working Papers 2015:130, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics.
    14. Ceyhun Haydaroglu, 2016. "The Effect of Foreign Direct Investment and Economic Freedom on Economic Growth: The Case of BRICS Countries," Research in World Economy, Research in World Economy, Sciedu Press, vol. 7(1), pages 1-10, June.
    15. Noha Emara & Loreto Reyes Rebolledo, 2019. "On the Relationship between Economic Freedom and Output per Worker: The Case of Asia-pacific Countries," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 9(6), pages 184-194.
    16. Thomas R. Scholz, 2024. "Improving the measurement of economic freedom by replacing government size with government effectiveness," European Journal of Comparative Economics, Cattaneo University (LIUC), vol. 21(1), pages 3-33, June.
    17. 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).
    18. María Soledad Feal Zubimendi, 2008. "Crecimiento económico y apertura comercial: análisis de la influencia de los canales," Estudios Economicos, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Departamento de Economia, vol. 25(50), pages 37-73, January-j.
    19. Silberberger, Magdalene & Königer, Jens, 2016. "Regulation, trade and economic growth," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 40(2), pages 308-322.
    20. Torfinn Harding & Jørn Rattsø, 2005. "The Barrier Model of Productivity Growth: South Africa," Working Paper Series 4805, Department of Economics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    APAC; OECD; Economic Freedom; Panel Models; Governance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O16 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Financial Markets; Saving and Capital Investment; Corporate Finance and Governance
    • O43 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Institutions and Growth
    • N20 - Economic History - - Financial Markets and Institutions - - - General, International, or Comparative

    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:jed:journl:v:46:y:2021:i:1:p:1-32. 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: Sung Y. Park (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/eccaukr.html .

    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.