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Institutions And Economic Performance: Cross‐Country Tests Using Alternative Institutional Measures

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  • Stephen Knack
  • Philip Keefer

Abstract

The impact of property rights on economic growth is examined using indicators provided by country risk evaluators to potential foreign investors. Indicators include evaluations of contract enforceability and risk of expropriation. Using these variables, property rights are found to have a greater impact on investment and growth than has previously been found for proxies such as the Gastil indices of liberties, and frequencies of revolutions, coups and political assassinations. Rates of convergence to U.S.‐level incomes increase notably when these property rights variables are included in growth regressions. These results are robust to the inclusion of measures of factor accumulation and of economic policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephen Knack & Philip Keefer, 1995. "Institutions And Economic Performance: Cross‐Country Tests Using Alternative Institutional Measures," Economics and Politics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 7(3), pages 207-227, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ecopol:v:7:y:1995:i:3:p:207-227
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-0343.1995.tb00111.x
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