scholarly journals Size of government and economic growth: A nonlinear analysis

2012 ◽  
Vol 57 (194) ◽  
pp. 7-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shanaka Herath

The new growth theory establishes, among other things, that government expenditure can manipulate the economic growth of a country. This study attempts to explain whether government expenditure increases or decreases economic growth in the context of Sri Lanka. Results obtained employing a productive output series and applying an analytical framework based on second degree polynomial regression are generally consistent with previous findings: government expenditure and economic growth are positively correlated; excessive government expenditure is negatively correlated with economic growth; and investment promotes growth. In a separate section, the article examines Armey?s idea of a quadratic curve that explains the level of government expenditure in an economy and the corresponding level of economic growth [Armey, D. (1995). The Freedom Revolution. Washington, D.C.: Regnery Publishing Co.]. The findings confirm the possibility of constructing the Armey curve for Sri Lanka, and it estimates the optimal level of government expenditure to be approximately 27%. This article adds to the literature indicating that the Armey curve is a reality not only for developed economies, but also for developing economies.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehdi Seraj ◽  
Cagay Coskuner ◽  
Seyi Saint Akadiri ◽  
Negar Bahadori

Abstract This study revisited Dani Rodrik (2008) work on real exchange rate undervaluation and economic growth by using the Fully Modified Ordinary Least Square (FMOLS) and Dynamic Ordinary Least Square (DOLS). This research, to the best of authors' knowledge, is the first to use FMOLS and DOLS approach to empirically evaluate Rodrik work on the real exchange rate and economic growth using a Panel periodic data (six sets of five years) of 82 countries throughout 1990 to 2018. We used the Balassa Samuelson method to estimate the predicted real exchange rate and real exchange rate undervaluation. Finally, the study is in support of Rodrik conclusion that, real exchange undervaluation has a significant impact on the economic growth of the developing economies and statistically insignificant in the developed economies.


2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
AH De Wet ◽  
NJ Schoeman ◽  
SF Koch

The research reported in this paper suggests that government fiscal policy can influence economic growth through alterations in the tax mix and the overall size of government spending.   The authors estimate the impact on economic growth of changes in fiscal policy via government expenditure, direct taxation and indirect taxation.  The results show that economic growth is negatively affected by increases in the size of government, as reflected in its expenditures and direct tax revenues, although significant indirect tax effects are not found.     


2020 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-68
Author(s):  
Muhsin Ali ◽  
Karim Khan

Volatility in discretionary public spending has diverse implications for the overall economic performance of economies. In this study, we examine the impact of volatile non�systematic discretionary public spending on economic growth. By employing cross-country data of 74 developed and developing economies, we find that volatility in non-systematic discretionary public spending has an adverse impact on economic growth. In particular, such impact is severe in the case of less developed economies. Our findings are robust to the problem of endogeneity. In order to ensure the accuracy of the results, we conduct sufficient sensitivity analysis by incorporating a bunch of potential control variables. In most of the cases, the results with regard to the policy volatility remain intact. This suggests that effective spending rules, i.e. permanent numerical limits, should be imposed on budgetary aggregates to restrain governments from the volatile use of discretionary spending. JEL Classification: H3; H5 Keywords: Volatility in Discretionary Public Spending, Economic Growth, Effective Spending Rule


2003 ◽  
Vol 48 (01) ◽  
pp. 27-38
Author(s):  
D. P. Doessel ◽  
Abbas Valadkhani

This paper investigates the empirical relationship between the size of government and the process of economic growth in Fiji. The results reported here present a mixed picture, in that the model estimated specifies two different effects of the government sector on economic growth. Using annual time series data for the period 1964–1999, it is found that government expenditure exerts a strong beneficial impact on economic growth. However, marginal factor productivity in the government sector is found to be lower than that of the private sector. The reasons for this low productivity are two-fold: the result of the lack of market incentives and signals in the public sector and the involvement of Fiji's government in some activities which may be rationalised in terms of the socio-political objectives of the Fijian government. While recognising that there may be factors which may hinder the process of efficiency in the private sector, it can be argued that by shifting factors of production from the low productivity (government) sector to the high productivity (private) sector, the rate of growth of GNP will increase.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Onsay

This paper unravels the critical aspect of science and technology through research and development indicators as sources, drivers, and predictors of economic growth from the perspective of two developing countries, namely: Philippines and Thailand (ASEAN), and two developed economies, namely: Japan and Australia (ASEAN-X) in Asia-Pacific Region. The data set ranges from 1980 to 2019 and is collected from World Development Indicators of the World Bank, Institute for Statistics of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Research and Development (R&D) is a tool for generating new knowledge and serves as input for technological advancement. In the long run, it has been proven that technology can sustain permanent economic development in the economy. In developed economies, the nexus between the aforementioned variables is robust and significant. Thus, the R&D indicators can be used as a predictor of economic growth. However, in developing economies, the nexus of variables involved is negligible and insignificant. Hence, the R&D indicators cannot be effectively utilized as a predictor of economic growth. Furthermore, the study combined the two sets of panel data and a relevant conclusion was drawn. A country-panel regression and causality analysis were performed based on the empirics of macroeconomics.


2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (05) ◽  
pp. 1251-1278
Author(s):  
SAIMA NAWAZ ◽  
M. IDREES KHAWAJA

The paper attempts to analyze the impact of fiscal policy on economic growth while considering level of development and controlling for state of institutions. We extend the Solow growth model by incorporating fiscal policy and institutions through using total factor productivity. Our empirical analysis includes a panel of 56 countries. The empirics demonstrate that impact of fiscal policy on growth is statistically insignificant in the full sample. However, splitting the sample into developed and developing economies, positive association with economic growth in developed economies and negative association in developing economies observed. Our findings thus inform that fiscal policy contributes positively to growth only in developed economies. The reason for this seems to be an enabling institutional environment in developed economies. This kind of enabling institutional environment allows fiscal policy to play positive role in developed economies and absence of such environment contributes to the negative impact of fiscal policy in developing economies.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enock Nyorekwa Twinoburyo ◽  
Nicholas M. Odhiambo

Abstract This paper aims to survey the existing literature, both theoretical and empirical, on the relationship between monetary policy and economic growth. While there has been a wide range of studies on the existing relationship between monetary policy and economic growth, the nexus between the two remains inconclusive. This paper takes a comprehensive view of the theoretical evolution of the relationship and the respective recent empirical findings. Overall, this paper shows that the majority of findings support the relevancy of monetary policy in supporting economic growth, mainly in financially developed economies with fairly independent central banks. The relationship tends to be weaker in developing economies with structural weaknesses and underdeveloped financial markets that are weakly integrated into global markets. This paper concludes that monetary policy matters for growth both in the short-run and long-run despite the prevailing ambiguous relationship. The paper recommends intensive financial development measure for developing countries as well as structural reforms to address to supply side deficiencies.


2009 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 450-476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandros Mourmouras ◽  
Peter Rangazas

This paper offers possible explanations for three generally observed facts about fiscal policy and development: (F1) the relative size of government increases as an economy develops, (F2) the rise in government and taxation are associated with rising or constant economic growth rates, and (F3) today's developing countries have larger government sectors than today's developed countries had at similar stages of development. The explanations for these facts are based on the structural transformation from traditional to modern production, rising public infrastructure investment, and less democratic governments in many of today's developing economies.


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 222-232
Author(s):  
Muhammad Ashfaq ◽  
Ihtsham UlHaq Padda

Background: In underdeveloped economies, the role of public debt is very vital with the intention of achieving a desirable level of output, employment and sustainability in long run economic growth. Fiscal deficit in developing economies is a common phenomenon because of low tax base and high imports. Economy of Pakistan is also facing fiscal deficit and trade deficit since its independence, so it relies on public debt to fill this fiscal gap. Objectives: The objective of this study is to estimate the optimal level of public debt for economic growth. Methods: This study explores the nonlinear relationships between public debt and economic growth of Pakistan by using time series data. The ARDL bound test technique is used to estimate the short-run and long-run impact of debt on economic growth. The growth maximizing level of debt is also estimated. Results: According to the estimated parameters, the optimal level of public debt is 60% of GDP. It also indicates that increase in government borrowings will raise economic growth in Pakistan in the long run. However, in the short run, if public debt increases it will boost economic growth after some levels of public debt and it will start declining. Conclusions: This study implies that public debt must be discouraged beyond optimal level of debt, as above optimal level it adversely affects the economic growth. Implications: The implication of the findings of the study is that higher interest rate curbs economic growth, therefore, present policy of keeping high interest rate by government should be revisited. Recommendations: Government of Pakistan should focus on fiscal and current account deficit, which are the main cause of increasing public debt, because higher public debt is not good for economic growth. Also, suitable fiscal policy is needed to control the debt burden and to get rid-off Ponzi game of debt from Pakistan by strictly enforcing the Fiscal Responsibility and Debt Limitation Act 2005.


Author(s):  
Abebe Hailemariam ◽  
Ratbek Dzhumashev

AbstractThis paper examines the relationship between income inequality and economic growth in a broad panel of countries over the period from 1965 to 2014. We utilize an improved dataset for inequality with reduced measurement errors, which fosters cross-country comparability. In addition, we investigate whether accounting for heterogeneity across countries alters the estimated effect of inequality on growth, and whether the inequality-growth nexus varies with the level of income inequality. Our estimates show that after accounting for heterogeneity, the nonlinear growth effect of income inequality remains statistically and economically significant. We find a threshold effect of inequality on economic growth, and this threshold is higher for developing economies than for developed economies.


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