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The impact of government size on economic growth: A threshold analysis

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  • Asimakopoulos, Stylianos
  • Karavias, Yiannis

Abstract

We examine the nature of the relationship between government size and economic growth and identify the optimal level of government size using a large dataset through a novel and very general non-linear panel Generalized Method of Moments approach. We show that this relationship is statistically significant above and below the optimal level, even after splitting our sample to developed and developing countries. Finally, we find an asymmetric impact of government size on economic growth in both developed and developing countries around the estimated threshold.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:139:y:2016:i:c:p:65-68
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2015.12.010
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Government size; Economic growth; Dynamic threshold estimation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory
    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O50 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - General

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