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Institutions and Trade: Competitors or Complements in Economic Development?

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  • SAMBIT BHATTACHARYYA
  • STEVE DOWRICK
  • JANE GOLLEY

Abstract

This article contributes to the debate over the empirical relationship between trade openness and economic development. Unlike previous studies which treat trade openness and institutions as competitors in economic development, we find evidence that they are in fact complements. We also find that in order for a country to benefit from trade, its institutional quality has to be above a certain threshold level. These results are suggestive of an important complementary role for trade openness and institutions in economic development.

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  • Sambit Bhattacharyya & Steve Dowrick & Jane Golley, 2009. "Institutions and Trade: Competitors or Complements in Economic Development?," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 85(270), pages 318-330, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ecorec:v:85:y:2009:i:270:p:318-330
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-4932.2009.00541.x
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    2. Bhattacharyya, Sambit, 2011. "Five Centuries of Economic Growth in India: The Institutions Perspective," MPRA Paper 67901, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Arusha Cooray & Nabamita Dutta & Sushanta Mallick, 2017. "Trade Openness and Labor Force Participation in Africa: The Role of Political Institutions," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 56(2), pages 319-350, April.
    4. Sambit Bhattacharyya, 2011. "Growth Miracles and Growth Debacles," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 13609.
    5. Costantini, Valeria & Liberati, Paolo, 2014. "Technology transfer, institutions and development," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 26-48.
    6. Li, Kui-Wai, 2011. "The Optimal Level and Impact of Internal Factors on Growth," MPRA Paper 36419, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. L. Alan Winters & Antonio Martuscelli, 2014. "Trade Liberalization and Poverty: What Have We Learned in a Decade?," Annual Review of Resource Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 6(1), pages 493-512, October.
    8. Samad, Abdul & Masih, Mansur, 2018. "Does institutional quality matter in attracting foreign direct investment? the case of Ethiopia based on ARDL approach," MPRA Paper 108493, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    9. Bhattacharyya, Sambit, 2012. "Trade liberalization and institutional development," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 34(2), pages 253-269.
    10. Marcella Nicolini & Alessia Paccagnini, 2011. "Does Trade Foster Institutions?," Open Access publications 10197/7587, School of Economics, University College Dublin.
    11. Miguel Angel Esquivias & Lilik Sugiharti & Rossanto Dwi Handoyo & Muryani Muryani, 2023. "Small and medium enterprises and low-income workers in the global value chain: evidence from Indonesia," International Journal of Business and Globalisation, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 34(3), pages 294-317.
    12. Kim, Dong-Hyeon & Lin, Shu-Chin & Suen, Yu-Bo, 2013. "Investment, trade openness and foreign direct investment: Social capability matters," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 56-69.
    13. Marcella Nicolini & Alessia Paccagnini, 2011. "Does Trade Foster Institutions? An Empirical Assessment," Review of Economics and Institutions, Università di Perugia, vol. 2(2).
    14. Mohsin Hasnain Ahmad & Qazi Masood Ahmed, 2014. "Does the Institutional Quality Matter to Attract the Foreign Direct Investment? An Empirical Investigation for Pakistan," South Asia Economic Journal, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka, vol. 15(1), pages 55-70, March.
    15. Kuncic, Aljaz, 2012. "Institutional determinants of bilateral trade: Taking another look," Kiel Advanced Studies Working Papers 462, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).

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    JEL classification:

    • F1 - International Economics - - Trade
    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development

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