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Government size, institutions, and export performance among OECD economies

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  • Bournakis, Ioannis
  • Tsoukis, Christopher

Abstract

With a panel of 18 OECD countries, 1980–2005, we investigate the determinants of export performance, in particular the effects of the size of government and institutional features. In a model of endogenous extent of domestically-produced goods, government size has a non-linear effect on export performance; the export-maximising size of government (tax receipts) is around 40–45% of GDP; the best size of productive government spending is around 16% of GDP. Product market and labour market-related rigidities affect negatively the export performance both on their own and via a negative effect on the effectiveness of R&D and slow down the speed of adjustment. Among traditional variables, relative unit labour cost, R&D shares in GDP, TFP growth and human capital show up significantly and with the expected signs.

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  • Bournakis, Ioannis & Tsoukis, Christopher, 2016. "Government size, institutions, and export performance among OECD economies," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 37-47.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecmode:v:53:y:2016:i:c:p:37-47
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econmod.2015.11.011
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    8. Serhiy Moroz & Khabibullo Pirmatov & Elena Horska & Ludmila Nagyova & Zuzana Polakova, 2017. "The Effect of Selected Economic Indicators on Export of Goods of Regions of Ukraine," Montenegrin Journal of Economics, Economic Laboratory for Transition Research (ELIT), vol. 13(2), pages 141-150.
    9. Ramona Tiganasu & Gabriela Carmen Pascariu & Dan Lupu, 2022. "Competitiveness, fiscal policy and corruption: evidence from Central and Eastern European countries," Oeconomia Copernicana, Institute of Economic Research, vol. 13(3), pages 667-698, September.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Export shares; Government size; Institutions; Unit labour cost; Competitiveness;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E02 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General - - - Institutions and the Macroeconomy
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • F41 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Open Economy Macroeconomics

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