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On the Optimal Government Size in Europe: Theory and Empirical Evidence

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  • Karras, Georgios

Abstract

This paper extimates the optimal government size for the representative European country by investigating the role of public services in the production process. The empirical results support the following conclusions: (1) government services are significantly productive; (2) there is no evidence that government services (on average) are not optimally provided; (3) the optimal government size is 16 percent (+/- 3 percent) for the average International Comparison Program European country; and (4) the marginal productivity of government services may be negatively related to government size. Copyright 1997 by Blackwell Publishers Ltd and The Victoria University of Manchester

Suggested Citation

  • Karras, Georgios, 1997. "On the Optimal Government Size in Europe: Theory and Empirical Evidence," The Manchester School of Economic & Social Studies, University of Manchester, vol. 65(3), pages 280-294, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:manch2:v:65:y:1997:i:3:p:280-94
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    Cited by:

    1. Linna Lu & Yalin Lei, 2013. "Scale Determinants of Fiscal Investment in Geological Exploration: Evidence from China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(10), pages 1-7, October.
    2. Ayşegül Durucan, 2022. "Testing The Validity Of The Bars Curve For Turkey," Economic Annals, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Belgrade, vol. 67(232), pages 153-192, January –.
    3. Wanjuu Zungwe Lazarus & Hlalefang Khobai & Pierre Le Roux, 2017. "Government Size and Economic Growth in Africa and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Countries," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 7(4), pages 628-637.
    4. Mroczek Teresa & Skica Tomasz & Rodzinka Jacek, 2019. "Optimal Size of the General Government Sector from the Point of View of its Impact on the EU Economies," South East European Journal of Economics and Business, Sciendo, vol. 14(2), pages 95-105, December.
    5. Alleyne, K.A. & Lewis-Bynoe, D. & Moore, W., 2004. "An Assessment of the Growth-Enhancing Size of Government in the Caribbean," Applied Econometrics and International Development, Euro-American Association of Economic Development, vol. 4(3).
    6. Hassan Aly & Mark Strazicich, 2000. "Is Government Size Optimal in the Gulf Countries of the Middle East? An empirical investigation," International Review of Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(4), pages 475-483.
    7. Joao Sousa Andrade & Marta Simões & Adelaide Duarte, 2016. "A thresholds analysis of growth, convergence and structural change in the EU: insights for Portugal," EcoMod2016 9690, EcoMod.
    8. Trofimov, Ivan D., 2020. "The optimum size of public education spending: panel data evidence," MPRA Paper 106847, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    9. Shagas, Natalia (Шагас, Наталья) & Bojechkova, A.V. (Божечкова, А.В.) & Perevyshin, Y.N. (Перевышин, Ю.Н.) & Perevyshina, E.A. (Перевышина, Е.А.), 2016. "Modeling of State Influence on the Processes of Economic Growth [Моделирование Воздействия Государства На Процессы Экономического Роста]," Working Papers 2132, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration.
    10. Pelin Varol Iyidogan & Taner Turan, 2017. "Government Size and Economic Growth in Turkey: A Threshold Regression Analysis," Prague Economic Papers, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2017(2), pages 142-154.
    11. Stefan Kühn & Joan Muysken & Tom Van Veen, 2010. "The Adverse Effect Of Government Spending On Private Consumption In New Keynesian Models," Metroeconomica, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 61(4), pages 621-639, November.
    12. J. Stephen Ferris, 2010. "Fiscal Policy from a Public Choice Perspective," Carleton Economic Papers 10-10, Carleton University, Department of Economics.
    13. Ratbek Dzhumashev, 2014. "The Two-Way Relationship Between Government Spending And Corruption And Its Effects On Economic Growth," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 32(2), pages 403-419, April.
    14. Olaoye, Olumide O. & Eluwole, Oluwatosin O. & Ayesha, Aziz & Afolabi, Olugbenga O., 2020. "Government spending and economic growth in ECOWAS: An asymmetric analysis," The Journal of Economic Asymmetries, Elsevier, vol. 22(C).
    15. Kalkuhl, Matthias & Fernandez Milan, Blanca & Schwerhoff, Gregor & Jakob, Michael & Hahnen, Maren & Creutzig, Felix, 2017. "Fiscal Instruments for Sustainable Development: The Case of Land Taxes," MPRA Paper 78652, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    16. Megha Jain & Aishwarya Nagpal & Abhay Jain, 2021. "Government Size and Economic Growth: An Empirical Examination of Selected Emerging Economies," South Asian Journal of Macroeconomics and Public Finance, , vol. 10(1), pages 7-39, June.
    17. Asimakopoulos, Stylianos & Karavias, Yiannis, 2016. "The impact of government size on economic growth: A threshold analysis," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 65-68.
    18. Mrs. Esther Perez Ruiz & Mauricio Soto, 2019. "Attaining Selected Sustainable Development Goals in Guatemala: Spending, Provision, and Financing Needs," IMF Working Papers 2019/060, International Monetary Fund.
    19. Ferris, J. Stephen & Voia, Marcel C., 2015. "The effect of federal government size on private economic performance in Canada: 1870–2011," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 172-185.
    20. Suleyman Kasal, 2023. "Analysing The Armey Curve Based On The Fourier Cointegration Approach For Turkey," Economic Annals, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Belgrade, vol. 68(236), pages 139-158, January –.
    21. Marta Simões & João Sousa Andrade & Adelaide Duarte, 2012. "Convergence and Growth: Portugal in the EU 1986-2010," GEMF Working Papers 2012-13, GEMF, Faculty of Economics, University of Coimbra.
    22. João Sousa Andrade & Adelaide Duarte & Marta Simões, 2014. "A Quantile Regression Analysis of Growth and Convergence in the EU: Potential Implications for Portugal," Notas Económicas, Faculty of Economics, University of Coimbra, issue 39, pages 48-72, June.
    23. Hüseyin Şen & Ayşe Kaya & Ayşegül Durucan, 2023. "New insights into the growth-maximizing size of government: evidence and implications for Turkey," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 56(4), pages 2243-2296, August.
    24. Akram, Vaseem & Rath, Badri Narayan, 2020. "Optimum government size and economic growth in case of Indian states: Evidence from panel threshold model," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 151-162.

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