IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/jknowl/v13y2022i3d10.1007_s13132-021-00787-w.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Economic Freedom and Human Development in ECOWAS: Does Political-Institutional Strength Play a Role?

Author

Listed:
  • Olalekan C. Okunlola

    (Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution)

  • Olumide A. Ayetigbo

    (Professorial Secretariat, National Open University of Nigeria)

Abstract

In this article, we examined the role political-institution strength plays in the relationship between economic freedom and human development, using the 15 ECOWAS countries and two sub-samples (Francophone and Anglophone countries) within the region. We used the Pooled Mean Group ARDL estimations to examine the long and short-term dynamic relationships. Before conducting the Pooled Mean Group estimations, we conducted the multicollinearity, heterogeneity, and cross-sectional dependence tests. Our findings show that political-institutional strength in ECOWAS and Francophone ECOWAS countries played a very significant moderating role on the effect of economic freedom on human development in the long run. The case is however different in Anglophone ECOWAS countries because the impact of the interactive terms is insignificant. Also, our findings show that the interaction of political-institutional strength and economic freedom has no significant impact in the short run in ECOWAS.

Suggested Citation

  • Olalekan C. Okunlola & Olumide A. Ayetigbo, 2022. "Economic Freedom and Human Development in ECOWAS: Does Political-Institutional Strength Play a Role?," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 13(3), pages 1751-1785, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jknowl:v:13:y:2022:i:3:d:10.1007_s13132-021-00787-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s13132-021-00787-w
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s13132-021-00787-w
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s13132-021-00787-w?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
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Feng, Yi, 1997. "Democracy, Political Stability and Economic Growth," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 27(3), pages 391-418, July.
    2. Cephas Naanwaab, 2018. "Does Economic Freedom Promote Human Development? New Evidence from a Cross-National Study," Journal of Developing Areas, Tennessee State University, College of Business, vol. 52(3), pages 183-198, July-Sept.
    3. Gehring, Kai, 2013. "Who Benefits from Economic Freedom? Unraveling the Effect of Economic Freedom on Subjective Well-Being," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 74-90.
    4. John A. Tures, 2003. "Economic Freedom and Conflict Reduction: Evidence from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s," Cato Journal, Cato Journal, Cato Institute, vol. 22(3), pages 533-542, Winter.
    5. Edmund R. Thompson, 2004. "National Competitive Advantage and the Roles of Economic and Political Freedom: Evidence from Hong Kong," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 120(3_4), pages 401-437, September.
    6. Bhagwati, Jagdish, 2007. "In Defense of Globalization: With a New Afterword," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780195330939.
    7. James Gwartney, 2004. "What Have We Learned from the Economic Freedom of the World Index?," Journal of Private Enterprise, The Association of Private Enterprise Education, vol. 20(Fall 2004), pages 1-8.
    8. Chauffour, Jean-Pierre, 2011. "On the relevance of freedom and entitlement in development : new empirical evidence (1975-2007)," Policy Research Working Paper Series 5660, The World Bank.
    9. Jac C Heckelman & Benjamin Powell, 2010. "Corruption and the Institutional Environment for Growth," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 52(3), pages 351-378, September.
    10. Pesaran, M. Hashem & Smith, Ron, 1995. "Estimating long-run relationships from dynamic heterogeneous panels," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 68(1), pages 79-113, July.
    11. Robert E. Lucas, 2000. "Some Macroeconomics for the 21st Century," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 14(1), pages 159-168, Winter.
    12. Verdier, Thierry & Bisin, Alberto, 2017. "On the Joint Evolution of Culture and Institutions," CEPR Discussion Papers 12000, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    13. Carlsson, Fredrik & Lundstrom, Susanna, 2002. "Economic Freedom and Growth: Decomposing the Effects," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 112(3-4), pages 335-344, September.
    14. Bennett, Daniel L. & Faria, Hugo J. & Gwartney, James D. & Morales, Daniel R., 2017. "Economic Institutions and Comparative Economic Development: A Post-Colonial Perspective," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 503-519.
    15. Acemoglu, Daron & Johnson, Simon & Robinson, James A., 2005. "Institutions as a Fundamental Cause of Long-Run Growth," Handbook of Economic Growth, in: Philippe Aghion & Steven Durlauf (ed.), Handbook of Economic Growth, edition 1, volume 1, chapter 6, pages 385-472, Elsevier.
    16. James D. Gwartney & Randall G. Holcombe & Robert A. Lawson, 2006. "Institutions and the Impact of Investment on Growth," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(2), pages 255-273, May.
    17. M. Hashem Pesaran, 2021. "General diagnostic tests for cross-sectional dependence in panels," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 60(1), pages 13-50, January.
    18. Scott E. Masten & Jens Prüfer, 2014. "On the Evolution of Collective Enforcement Institutions: Communities and Courts," The Journal of Legal Studies, University of Chicago Press, vol. 43(2), pages 359-400.
    19. Richard Cebula & Franklin Mixon, 2012. "The Impact of Fiscal and Other Economic Freedoms on Economic Growth: An Empirical Analysis," International Advances in Economic Research, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 18(2), pages 139-149, May.
    20. Graafland, Johan, 2020. "Contingencies in the relationship between economic freedom and human development: the role of generalized trust," Journal of Institutional Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 16(3), pages 271-286, June.
    21. Peter Warr, 2002. "Poverty Incidence and Sectoral Growth: Evidence from Southeast Asia," WIDER Working Paper Series DP2002-20, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    22. Feldmann, Horst, 2017. "Economic freedom and human capital investment," Journal of Institutional Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 13(2), pages 421-445, June.
    23. Evgeni Peev & Dennis C. Mueller, 2012. "Democracy, Economic Freedom and Growth in Transition Economies," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 65(3), pages 371-407, August.
    24. J. Wilson Mixon Jr. & Gary H. Roseman, 2003. "Male-Female Life Expectancy and Economic Freedom," Journal of Private Enterprise, The Association of Private Enterprise Education, vol. 19(Fall 2003), pages 1-20.
    25. Spruk, Rok & Keå Eljeviä†, Aleksandar, 2018. "Economic freedom and growth across German districts," Journal of Institutional Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 14(4), pages 739-765, August.
    26. Elizabeth M. King & Claudio E. Montenegro & Peter F. Orazem, 2012. "Economic Freedom, Human Rights, and the Returns to Human Capital: An Evaluation of the Schultz Hypothesis," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 61(1), pages 39-72.
    27. Joshua Hall & John Levendis & Alexandre R. Scarcioffolo, 2020. "The Efficient Corruption Hypothesis and the Dynamics Between Economic Freedom, Corruption, and National Income," Journal of Developing Areas, Tennessee State University, College of Business, vol. 54(3), pages 161-175, July-Sept.
    28. W. Kenn Farr & Richard A. Lord & J. Larry Wolfenbarger, 1998. "Economic Freedom, Political Freedom, and Economic Well-Being: A Causality Analysis," Cato Journal, Cato Journal, Cato Institute, vol. 18(2), pages 247-262, Fall.
    29. Johan Graafland & Niels Noorderhaven, 2020. "Culture and institutions: How economic freedom and long-term orientation interactively influence corporate social responsibility," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(6), pages 1034-1043, August.
    30. 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.
    31. Johan Graafland & Bart Compen, 2015. "Economic Freedom and Life Satisfaction: Mediation by Income per Capita and Generalized Trust," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 789-810, June.
    32. Christian Bjørnskov & Nicolai Foss, 2010. "Economic Freedom and Entrepreneurial Activity: Some Cross-Country Evidence," Springer Books, in: Andreas Freytag & Roy Thurik (ed.), Entrepreneurship and Culture, chapter 0, pages 201-225, Springer.
    33. Amon O. Okpala & Comfort O. Okpala, 2017. "Index of Economic Freedom, Religion and Female Literacy in Sub-Saharan Africa," The Journal of Social Sciences Research, Academic Research Publishing Group, vol. 3(4), pages 33-36, 04-2017.
    34. Enste, Dominik & Heldman, Christina, 2017. "Causes and consequences of corruption: An overview of empirical results," IW-Reports 2/2017, Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft (IW) / German Economic Institute.
    35. Zhenhui Xu & Haizheng Li, 2008. "Political freedom, economic freedom, and income convergence: Do stages of economic development matter?," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 135(3), pages 183-205, June.
    36. Daron Acemoglu & Simon Johnson & James A. Robinson, 2001. "The Colonial Origins of Comparative Development: An Empirical Investigation," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 91(5), pages 1369-1401, December.
    37. Wittman, Donald, 1989. "Why Democracies Produce Efficient Results," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 97(6), pages 1395-1424, December.
    38. Carden Art & Verdon Lisa, 2010. "When Is Corruption a Substitute for Economic Freedom?," The Law and Development Review, De Gruyter, vol. 3(1), pages 40-63, May.
    39. 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.
    40. Johan Graafland, 2020. "When Does Economic Freedom Promote Well Being? On the Moderating Role of Long-Term Orientation," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 149(1), pages 127-153, May.
    41. Arora, Vivek & Vamvakidis, Athanasios, 2006. "The Impact of U.S. Economic Growth on the Rest of the World: How Much Does It Matter?," Journal of Economic Integration, Center for Economic Integration, Sejong University, vol. 21, pages 21-39.
    42. Murphy, Ryan H., 2016. "Economic freedom of North America at state borders 1," Journal of Institutional Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 12(4), pages 885-893, December.
    43. James Buchanan, 1990. "The domain of constitutional economics," Constitutional Political Economy, Springer, vol. 1(1), pages 1-18, December.
    44. Robert A. Lawson, 2008. "On the Methodology of the Economic Freedom of the World Index," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: King Banaian & Bryan Roberts (ed.), The Design and Use of Political Economy Indicators, chapter 0, pages 171-185, Palgrave Macmillan.
    45. Heckelman, Jac C & Stroup, Michael D, 2000. "Which Economic Freedoms Contribute to Growth?," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(4), pages 527-544.
    46. Friedman, Milton, 2002. "Capitalism and Freedom," University of Chicago Press Economics Books, University of Chicago Press, number 9780226264202.
    47. Manuel Vega-Gordillo & José L. à lvarez-Arce, 2003. "Economic Growth and Freedom: A Causality Study," Cato Journal, Cato Journal, Cato Institute, vol. 23(2), pages 199-215, Fall.
    48. Stroup, Michael D., 2007. "Economic Freedom, Democracy, and the Quality of Life," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 52-66, January.
    49. Johan Graafland & Bjorn Lous, 2018. "Economic Freedom, Income Inequality and Life Satisfaction in OECD Countries," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 19(7), pages 2071-2093, October.
    50. Evan Osborne, 2010. "Economic freedom, ethnic separatism, and ethnic conflict," Journal of Developing Areas, Tennessee State University, College of Business, vol. 44(1), pages 367-381, September.
    51. Ismatilla Mardanov, 2020. "Political And Economic Institutions And Human Development: Post-Communist Nations," Global Economy Journal (GEJ), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 20(01), pages 1-30, March.
    52. Dawson, John W, 1998. "Institutions, Investment, and Growth: New Cross-Country and Panel Data Evidence," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 36(4), pages 603-619, October.
    53. Seth W. Norton, 1998. "Poverty, Property Rights, and Human Well-Being: A Cross-National Study," Cato Journal, Cato Journal, Cato Institute, vol. 18(2), pages 233-245, Fall.
    54. Boris Nikolaev, 2014. "Economic Freedom and Quality of Life: Evidence from the OECD’s Your Better Life Index," Journal of Private Enterprise, The Association of Private Enterprise Education, vol. 29(Fall 2014), pages 61-96.
    55. Dawid Piątek & Katarzyna Szarzec & Michał Pilc, 2013. "Economic freedom, democracy and economic growth: a causal investigation in transition countries," Post-Communist Economies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(3), pages 267-288, September.
    56. Sandholtz, Wayne & Gray, Mark M., 2003. "International Integration and National Corruption," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 57(4), pages 761-800, October.
    57. Saha, Shrabani & Gounder, Rukmani & Su, Jen-Je, 2009. "The interaction effect of economic freedom and democracy on corruption: A panel cross-country analysis," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 105(2), pages 173-176, November.
    58. Friedman, Milton, 2002. "Capitalism and Freedom," University of Chicago Press Economics Books, University of Chicago Press, number 9780226264219, Febrero.
    59. Farhadi, Minoo & Islam, Md. Rabiul & Moslehi, Solmaz, 2015. "Economic Freedom and Productivity Growth in Resource-rich Economies," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 109-126.
    60. Richard J. Cebula, 2013. "Which economic freedoms influence per capita real income?," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(4), pages 368-372, March.
    61. Herbert G. Grubel, 1998. "Economic Freedom and Human Welfare: Some Empirical Findings," Cato Journal, Cato Journal, Cato Institute, vol. 18(2), pages 287-304, Fall.
    62. 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.
    63. Khalid Zaman & Muhammad Qaiser Saleem & Mehboob Ahmad & Aamir Khan, 2017. "Economic Freedom Indicators and Higher Education Reforms: Evaluation and Planning Internationalization Process," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 7(3), pages 152-160.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. 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.
    2. Johan Graafland, 2020. "When Does Economic Freedom Promote Well Being? On the Moderating Role of Long-Term Orientation," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 149(1), pages 127-153, May.
    3. Petar Stankov, 2017. "Economic Freedom and Welfare Before and After the Crisis," Springer Books, Springer, number 978-3-319-62497-6, December.
    4. Graafland, Johan & de Jong, Eelke, 2022. "The moderating role of culture on the benefits of economic freedom: Cross-country analysis," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(1), pages 280-292.
    5. Graafland, Johan, 2023. "Economic freedom and life satisfaction: A moderated mediation model with individual autonomy and national culture," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    6. 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).
    7. Ivana Brkić & Nikola Gradojević & Svetlana Ignjatijević, 2020. "The Impact of Economic Freedom on Economic Growth? New European Dynamic Panel Evidence," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-13, February.
    8. Olalekan C. Okunlola & Olumide A. Ayetigbo & Sam O. Ajiye, 2022. "Does a free market system reduce conflict in Africa?," Journal of Social and Economic Development, Springer;Institute for Social and Economic Change, vol. 24(1), pages 147-170, June.
    9. Richard J. Cebula & Franklin G. Mixon Jr., 2014. "The Roles of Economic Freedom and Regulatory Quality in Creating a Favorable Environment for Investment in Energy R&D, Infrastructure, and Capacity," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 73(2), pages 299-324, April.
    10. Johan Graafland & Harmen Verbruggen, 2022. "Free-Market, Perfect Market and Welfare State Perspectives on “Good” Markets: an Empirical Test," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 17(2), pages 1113-1136, April.
    11. Sobel, Russell S., 2017. "The rise and decline of nations: the dynamic properties of institutional reform 1," Journal of Institutional Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 13(3), pages 549-574, September.
    12. Kešeljević, Aleksandar & Spruk, Rok, 2013. "Global distribution and dynamics of economic freedom: Non-parametric approach," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 560-571.
    13. 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.
    14. John W. Dawson, 2007. "The Empirical Institutions-Growth Literature: Is Something Amiss at the Top?," Econ Journal Watch, Econ Journal Watch, vol. 4(2), pages 184-196, May.
    15. Jakob De Haan & Susanna Lundström & Jan‐Egbert Sturm, 2006. "Market‐oriented institutions and policies and economic growth: A critical survey," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 20(2), pages 157-191, April.
    16. Doucouliagos, Chris & Ulubasoglu, Mehmet Ali, 2006. "Economic freedom and economic growth: Does specification make a difference?," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 22(1), pages 60-81, March.
    17. Justesen, Mogens K., 2008. "The effect of economic freedom on growth revisited: New evidence on causality from a panel of countries 1970-1999," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 24(3), pages 642-660, September.
    18. J. Brandon Bolen & Claudia R. Williamson, 2019. "The Path of Reform: The Consequences of Institutional Volatility," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 72(3), pages 400-425, August.
    19. Mulholland, Sean E. & Hernandez-Julian, Reynaldo, 2021. "Does Economic Freedom Lead to Selective Migration by Sex and Race?," Journal of Regional Analysis and Policy, Mid-Continent Regional Science Association, vol. 53(1), July.
    20. Slesman, Ly & Baharumshah, Ahmad Zubaidi & Ra'ees, Wahabuddin, 2015. "Institutional infrastructure and economic growth in member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 214-226.

    More about this item

    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:spr:jknowl:v:13:y:2022:i:3:d:10.1007_s13132-021-00787-w. 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: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    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.