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Economic Freedom and Economic Growth in Mena Countries

Author Info

Listed author(s):
  • Hossein Panahi

    (Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, University of Tabriz, Iran)

  • Ahmad Assadzadeh

    (Assistant Professor, Dept. of Economics, University of Tabriz, Iran)

  • Ramiar Refaei

    (Lecturer in Economics, University of PayameNoor, Baneh, Iran)

Registered author(s):

    Abstract

    Most studies of the relationship between economic freedom and growth of GDP have found a positive correlation. One problem in this area is the choice of measure of economic freedom. A single measurement does not reflect the complex economic environment and a highly aggregated index makes it difficult to draw policy conclusions. This paper attempts to answer the question: How does economic freedom impact economic growth? Using data from 13 selected MENA countries over the period of 2000 to 2009, this paper investigates the relationship between economic freedom and economic growth. The results of panel data analysis show that economic institutions, specifically economic freedom, play a significant role in economic development independently and the overall index of economic freedom is positively correlated with growth. It is found that economic freedom does matter for growth. This does not mean that increasing economic freedom, defined in general terms, is good for economic growth since some of the categories in the index are insignificant and some of the significant variables have negative effects.

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    Article provided by Asian Economic and Social Society in its journal Asian Economic and Financial Review.

    Volume (Year): 4 (2014)
    Issue (Month): 1 (January)
    Pages: 105-116

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    Handle: RePEc:asi:aeafrj:2014:p:105-116
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    Keywords: Economic Freedom; Economic Growth; Panel Data;

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    1. Sadequl Islam, 1996. "Economic freedom, per capita income and economic growth," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 3(9), pages 595-597.
    2. 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.
    3. Sala-i-Martin, Xavier, 1997. "I Just Ran Two Million Regressions," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 87(2), pages 178-183, May.
    4. Knowles, Stephen & Garces-Ozanne, Arlene, 2003. "Government Intervention and Economic Performance in East Asia," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 51(2), pages 451-477, January.
    5. repec:dgr:rugccs:199903 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Carlsson, Fredrik & Lundstrom, Susanna, 2002. "Economic Freedom and Growth: Decomposing the Effects," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 112(3-4), pages 335-344, September.
    7. 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, 04.
    8. Levine, Ross & Renelt, David, 1992. "A Sensitivity Analysis of Cross-Country Growth Regressions," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 82(4), pages 942-963, September.
    9. 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.
    10. 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.
    11. De Vanssay, Xavier & Spindler, Z A, 1994. "Freedom and Growth: Do Constitutions Matter?," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 78(3-4), pages 359-372, March.
    12. Torstensson, Johan, 1994. "Property Rights and Economic Growth: An Empirical Study," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(2), pages 231-247.
    13. Sam Green & Andrew Melnyk & Dennis Powers, 2002. "Is economic freedom necessary for technology diffusion?," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 9(14), pages 907-910.
    14. James D. Gwartney & Robert A. Lawson & Randall G. Holcombe, 1999. "Economic Freedom and the Environment for Economic Growth," Journal of Institutional and Theoretical Economics (JITE), Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, vol. 155(4), pages 643-643, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Adams, Samuel & Opoku, Eric Evans Osei, 2015. "Foreign direct investment, regulations and growth in sub-Saharan Africa," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 48-56.

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