IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/trapol/v163y2025icp116-124.html

Accessing the causality among air transportation, trade openness and GDP: Evidence from a panel of high-income countries

Author

Listed:
  • Rai, Sushil Kumar
  • Bangar Raju, T.

Abstract

•The study reveals the long term relationship between air transportation infrastructure, GDP, and trade openness for 20 high income nations.•The study demonstrates that trade openness and air transportation infrastructure, including air transport passengers and freight, have a significant positive impact on GDP both in the long run and short run.•The study provides evidence of a causal relationship between air transport infrastructure, trade openness, and GDP in high income countries.•The findings of the study strengthen the efficacy of Air Transportation Led Growth Hypothesis (ALGH) in high-income countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Rai, Sushil Kumar & Bangar Raju, T., 2025. "Accessing the causality among air transportation, trade openness and GDP: Evidence from a panel of high-income countries," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 116-124.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:trapol:v:163:y:2025:i:c:p:116-124
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tranpol.2025.01.012
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0967070X25000125
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.tranpol.2025.01.012?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

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ali, Rafaqet & Bakhsh, Khuda & Yasin, Muhammad Asim, 2023. "Causal nexus between air transportation and economic growth in BRICS countries," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    2. Button, Kenneth & Taylor, Samantha, 2000. "International air transportation and economic development," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 6(4), pages 209-222.
    3. Alexander Chudik & Kamiar Mohaddes & M. Hashem Pesaran & Mehdi Raissi, 2016. "Long-Run Effects in Large Heterogeneous Panel Data Models with Cross-Sectionally Correlated Errors," Advances in Econometrics, in: Essays in Honor of man Ullah, volume 36, pages 85-135, Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
    4. Kong, Qunxi & Peng, Dan & Ni, Yehui & Jiang, Xinyue & Wang, Ziqi, 2021. "Trade openness and economic growth quality of China: Empirical analysis using ARDL model," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 38(C).
    5. Zhang, Yijia & Cheng, Lu, 2023. "The role of transport infrastructure in economic growth: Empirical evidence in the UK," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 223-233.
    6. Grossman, Gene M & Helpman, Elhanan, 1990. "Trade, Innovation, and Growth," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 80(2), pages 86-91, May.
    7. W. W. Rostow, 1959. "The Stages Of Economic Growth," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 12(1), pages 1-16, August.
    8. Blonigen, Bruce A. & Cristea, Anca D., 2015. "Air service and urban growth: Evidence from a quasi-natural policy experiment," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 128-146.
    9. T. S. Breusch & A. R. Pagan, 1980. "The Lagrange Multiplier Test and its Applications to Model Specification in Econometrics," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 47(1), pages 239-253.
    10. Li, Yan & DaCosta, Maria N., 2013. "Transportation and income inequality in China: 1978–2007," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 56-71.
    11. M. Hashem Pesaran, 2021. "General diagnostic tests for cross-sectional dependence in panels," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 60(1), pages 13-50, January.
    12. Alexander Chudik & Kamiar Mohaddes & M. Hashem Pesaran & Mehdi Raissi, 2013. "Debt, inflation and growth robust estimation of long-run effects in dynamic panel data models," Globalization Institute Working Papers 162, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
    13. Chun‐ping Chang & Yung‐hsiang Ying, 2008. "The Generative Power Of Air Freight In The Trade Openness – Economic Growth Nexus In African Countries," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 76(3), pages 493-512, September.
    14. Joakim Westerlund, 2007. "Testing for Error Correction in Panel Data," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 69(6), pages 709-748, December.
    15. Van De Vijver, Elien & Derudder, Ben & Witlox, Frank, 2014. "Exploring causality in trade and air passenger travel relationships: the case of Asia-Pacific, 1980–2010," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 142-150.
    16. Hakim, Md Mahbubul & Merkert, Rico, 2016. "The causal relationship between air transport and economic growth: Empirical evidence from South Asia," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 120-127.
    17. Banerjee, Abhijit & Duflo, Esther & Qian, Nancy, 2020. "On the road: Access to transportation infrastructure and economic growth in China," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    18. Saidi, Samir & Mani, Venkatesh & Mefteh, Haifa & Shahbaz, Muhammad & Akhtar, Pervaiz, 2020. "Dynamic linkages between transport, logistics, foreign direct Investment, and economic growth: Empirical evidence from developing countries," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 277-293.
    19. Pradhan, Rudra P. & Arvin, Mak B. & Hall, John H., 2016. "Economic growth, development of telecommunications infrastructure, and financial development in Asia, 1991–2012," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 25-38.
    20. Wang, Hui & Han, Jiaying & Su, Min & Wan, Shulin & Zhang, Zhenchao, 2021. "The relationship between freight transport and economic development: A case study of China," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    21. Pacheco, Ricardo Rodrigues & Fernandes, Elton, 2017. "International air passenger traffic, trade openness and exchange rate in Brazil: A Granger causality test," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 22-29.
    22. Easterly, William & Rebelo, Sergio, 1993. "Fiscal policy and economic growth: An empirical investigation," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 32(3), pages 417-458, December.
    23. Gianni Carvelli, 2023. "The long-run effects of government expenditure on private investments: a panel CS-ARDL approach," Journal of Economics and Finance, Springer;Academy of Economics and Finance, vol. 47(3), pages 620-645, September.
    24. Chudik, Alexander & Pesaran, M. Hashem, 2015. "Common correlated effects estimation of heterogeneous dynamic panel data models with weakly exogenous regressors," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 188(2), pages 393-420.
    25. Raihan, Asif & Voumik, Liton Chandra & Akter, Salma & Ridzuan, Abdul Rahim & Fahlevi, Mochammad & Aljuaid, Mohammed & Saniuk, Sebastian, 2024. "Taking flight: Exploring the relationship between air transport and Malaysian economic growth," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    26. Brian Sloboda & Vincent Yao, 2008. "Interstate spillovers of private capital and public spending," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 42(3), pages 505-518, September.
    27. Jimenez, Emmanuel, 1995. "Human and physical infrastructure: Public investment and pricing policies in developing countries," Handbook of Development Economics, in: Hollis Chenery & T.N. Srinivasan (ed.), Handbook of Development Economics, edition 1, volume 3, chapter 43, pages 2773-2843, Elsevier.
    28. Brugnoli, Alberto & Dal Bianco, Antonio & Martini, Gianmaria & Scotti, Davide, 2018. "The impact of air transportation on trade flows: A natural experiment on causality applied to Italy," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 95-107.
    29. Sharif, Arshian & Shahbaz, Muhammad & Hille, Erik, 2019. "The Transportation-growth nexus in USA: Fresh insights from pre-post global crisis period," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 108-121.
    30. Portugal-Perez, Alberto & Wilson, John S., 2012. "Export Performance and Trade Facilitation Reform: Hard and Soft Infrastructure," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 40(7), pages 1295-1307.
    31. Law, Colin C.H. & Zhang, Yahua & Gow, Jeff & Vu, Xuan-Binh, 2022. "Dynamic relationship between air transport, economic growth and inbound tourism in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    32. Adedoyin, Festus Fatai & Bekun, Festus Victor & Driha, Oana M. & Balsalobre-Lorente, Daniel, 2020. "The effects of air transportation, energy, ICT and FDI on economic growth in the industry 4.0 era: Evidence from the United States," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    33. Romer, Paul M, 1990. "Endogenous Technological Change," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 98(5), pages 71-102, October.
    34. repec:bla:scandj:v:95:y:1993:i:4:p:607-25 is not listed on IDEAS
    35. Kirsi Mukkala & Hannu Tervo, 2013. "Air Transportation and Regional Growth: Which Way Does the Causality Run?," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 45(6), pages 1508-1520, June.
    36. Chen, Xin & Xuan, Chao & Qiu, Rui, 2021. "Understanding spatial spillover effects of airports on economic development: New evidence from China’s hub airports," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 48-60.
    37. Sanwei He & Shan Yu & Lei Wang, 2021. "The nexus of transport infrastructure and economic output in city-level China: a heterogeneous panel causality analysis," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 66(1), pages 113-135, February.
    38. Bhagwati, Jagdish N, 1988. "Export-Promoting Trade Strategy: Issues and Evidence," The World Bank Research Observer, World Bank, vol. 3(1), pages 27-57, January.
    39. Okumus, İlyas & Guzel, Arif Eser & Destek, Mehmet Akif, 2021. "Renewable, Non-renewable Energy Consumption and Economic Growth Nexus in G7: Fresh Evidence from CS-ARDL," MPRA Paper 114136, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    40. Fangni Zhang & Daniel J. Graham, 2020. "Air transport and economic growth: a review of the impact mechanism and causal relationships," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(4), pages 506-528, July.
    41. Salinas, Aldo & Ortiz, Cristian & Changoluisa, Javier & Muffatto, Moreno, 2023. "Testing three views about the determinants of informal economy: New evidence at global level and by country groups using the CS-ARDL approach," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 438-455.
    42. Tiba, Sofien & Frikha, Mohamed, 2018. "Income, trade openness and energy interactions: Evidence from simultaneous equation modeling," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 799-811.
    43. Farhadi, Minoo, 2015. "Transport infrastructure and long-run economic growth in OECD countries," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 73-90.
    44. Malefa Rose Malefane & Mariam Camarero, 2020. "Trade openness and economic growth in Botswana: Evidence from cointegration and error-correction modelling," Cogent Economics & Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(1), pages 1783878-178, January.
    45. Yaobin Liu, 2013. "Energy Production and Regional Economic Growth in China: A More Comprehensive Analysis Using a Panel Model," Energies, MDPI, vol. 6(3), pages 1-12, March.
    46. Alam, Khalid Mehmood & Li, Xuemei & Baig, Saranjam & Ghanem, Osman & Hanif, Salman, 2021. "Causality between transportation infrastructure and economic development in Pakistan: An ARDL analysis," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    47. Alexander Chudik & Kamiar Mohaddes & M. Hashem Pesaran & Mehdi Raissi, 2017. "Is There a Debt-Threshold Effect on Output Growth?," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 99(1), pages 135-150, March.
    48. Shepherd, Ben & Wilson, John S., 2009. "Trade facilitation in ASEAN member countries: Measuring progress and assessing priorities," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 20(4), pages 367-383, September.
    49. Barro, Robert J, 1990. "Government Spending in a Simple Model of Endogenous Growth," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 98(5), pages 103-126, October.
    50. Lars-Hendrik Roller & Leonard Waverman, 2001. "Telecommunications Infrastructure and Economic Development: A Simultaneous Approach," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 91(4), pages 909-923, September.
    51. Zhang, Anming & Zhang, Yimin, 2002. "Issues on liberalization of air cargo services in international aviation," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 8(5), pages 275-287.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Ouni, Manel & Mraihi, Rafaa, 2025. "Air transportation and inclusive growth in Tunisia: Evidence from Autoregressive Distributed Lag and wavelet coherence approach," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).

    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. Ouni, Manel & Mraihi, Rafaa, 2025. "Air transportation and inclusive growth in Tunisia: Evidence from Autoregressive Distributed Lag and wavelet coherence approach," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    2. Carvelli, Gianni, 2024. "The dynamic effects of public investments on private capital formation: Modelling a heterogeneous asymmetric cointegration with unobserved global factors," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    3. Çelik, Ali Kemal & Yalçınkaya, Ömer & Kutlu, Muhammet, 2025. "The causal relationship between air transport and economic growth: Evidence from top ten countries with the largest air transport volume," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 521-532.
    4. Muhammed BENLI, 2020. "The effect of external debt on long run economic growth in developing economies: Evidence from heterogeneous panel data models with cross sectional dependency," Theoretical and Applied Economics, Asociatia Generala a Economistilor din Romania / Editura Economica, vol. 0(3(624), A), pages 127-138, Autumn.
    5. Sharma, Rajesh & Sinha, Avik & Kautish, Pradeep, 2021. "Do economic endeavors complement sustainability goals in the emerging economies of South and Southeast Asia?," MPRA Paper 108163, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 2021.
    6. Lu, Yin & Tian, Tian & Ge, Chen, 2023. "Asymmetric effects of renewable energy, fintech development, natural resources, and environmental regulations on the climate change in the post-covid era," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PB).
    7. Luque, Wolfgang Dupeyrat & Yu, Chunyan, 2025. "Evolution of the Airport Industry and Regional Growth in the Pacific Alliance Member Countries," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    8. Vinh, Ho Canh & Tung, Nguyen Hoang & Murakami, Jin & Kato, Hironori, 2025. "Development impact of airport capacity expansion with city-airport expressway connection in Asia's emerging economies: Evidence on nighttime light intensity from Ha Noi," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 63-77.
    9. Aytun, Cengiz & Erdogan, Sinan & Pata, Ugur Korkut & Cengiz, Orhan, 2024. "Associating environmental quality, human capital, financial development and technological innovation in 19 middle-income countries: A disaggregated ecological footprint approach," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    10. Xiaowen Fu & Kan Wai Hong Tsui & Breno Sampaio & David Tan, 2021. "Do airport activities affect regional economies? Regional analysis of New Zealand’s airport system," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(4), pages 707-722, April.
    11. Pot, Felix Johan & Koster, Sierdjan, 2022. "Small airports: Runways to regional economic growth?," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    12. Osarumwense Osabuohien-Irabor & Igor Mikhailovich Drapkin, 2022. "The Impact of Technological Innovation on Energy Consumption in OECD Economies: the role of Outward Foreign Direct Investment and International Trade Openness," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 12(4), pages 317-333, July.
    13. Gangopadhyay, Partha & Jain, Siddharth & Bakry, Walid, 2022. "In search of a rational foundation for the massive IT boom in the Australian banking industry: Can the IT boom really drive relationship banking?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    14. Sharma, Rajesh & Shahbaz, Muhammad & Sinha, Avik & Vo, Xuan Vinh, 2021. "Examining the temporal impact of stock market development on carbon intensity: Evidence from South Asian countries," MPRA Paper 108925, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 2021.
    15. Lenaerts, Bert & Allroggen, Florian & Malina, Robert, 2021. "The economic impact of aviation: A review on the role of market access," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    16. Muhammad Sadiq & Syed Tauseef Hassan & Irfan Khan & Mohammad Mafizur Rahman, 2024. "Policy uncertainty, renewable energy, corruption and CO2 emissions nexus in BRICS-1 countries: a panel CS-ARDL approach," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(8), pages 21595-21621, August.
    17. Chakraborty, Saptorshee Kanto & Mazzanti, Massimiliano, 2021. "Renewable electricity and economic growth relationship in the long run: Panel data econometric evidence from the OECD," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 330-341.
    18. Mohaddes, Kamiar & Raissi, Mehdi, 2017. "Do sovereign wealth funds dampen the negative effects of commodity price volatility?," Journal of Commodity Markets, Elsevier, vol. 8(C), pages 18-27.
    19. Khanna, Rupika & Sharma, Chandan, 2021. "Does infrastructure stimulate total factor productivity? A dynamic heterogeneous panel analysis for Indian manufacturing industries," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 59-73.
    20. Bright A. Gyamfi & Divine Q. Agozie & Ernest B. Ali & Festus V. Bekun & Simplice A. Asongu, 2024. "Assessment of the influence of institutions and globalization on environmental pollution for open and closed economies," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 58(5), pages 4353-4381, October.

    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:eee:trapol:v:163:y:2025:i:c:p:116-124. 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: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/30473/description#description .

    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.