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The Role of Press Freedom in Economic Development: A Global Perspective

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  • Abdullah Alam
  • Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah

Abstract

In this study, the authors explore the role of press freedom in the development of an economy, both in terms of economic growth and foreign direct investment. The relationship between press freedom, foreign direct investment, and economic growth is analyzed using a balanced panel of 115 countries. The existence of a bidirectional relationship between press freedom and economic growth is established using the generalized method of moments technique. We also find a bidirectional relationship between foreign direct investment and economic growth using the analysis. Our results are not contradicted by similar indices produced by Reporters Sans Frontières and Freedom House.

Suggested Citation

  • Abdullah Alam & Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah, 2013. "The Role of Press Freedom in Economic Development: A Global Perspective," Journal of Media Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(1), pages 4-20, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jmedec:v:26:y:2013:i:1:p:4-20
    DOI: 10.1080/08997764.2012.755986
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sung-Shil Lim & Jin-Ha Yoon & Jeongbae Rhie & Suk Won Bae & Jihyun Kim & Jong-Uk Won, 2018. "The Relationship between Free Press and Under-Reporting of Non-Fatal Occupational Injuries with Data from Representative National Indicators, 2015: Focusing on the Lethality Rate of Occupational Injur," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Malanski, Leonardo Köppe & Póvoa, Angela Cristiane Santos, 2021. "Economic growth and corruption in emerging markets: Does economic freedom matter?," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 58-70.
    3. Abed Masrorkhah, Sara & Lehnert, Thorsten, 2017. "Press freedom and jumps in stock prices," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 41(1), pages 151-162.
    4. Umut Uzar, 2022. "The connection between freedom of the press and environmental quality: An investigation on emerging market countries," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 46(1), pages 21-38, February.
    5. Jingtao Yi & Shuang Meng & Craig D. Macaulay & Mike W. Peng, 2019. "Corruption and foreign direct investment phases: The moderating role of institutions," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 2(2), pages 167-181, June.
    6. Hosein Mohammadi & Samira Shayanmehr & Juan D. Borrero, 2022. "Does Freedom Matter for Sustainable Economic Development? New Evidence from Spatial Econometric Analysis," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-19, December.
    7. DiMaria, charles-henri, 2024. "Let’s all get pessimistic about ill-being: civil society and political organisation mediations," MPRA Paper 121603, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Muhammad Athar Nadeem & Zhiying Liu & Yi Xu & Kishwar Nawaz & Muhammad Yousaf Malik & Amna Younis, 2020. "Impacts of terrorism, governance structure, military expenditures and infrastructures upon tourism: empirical evidence from an emerging economy," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 10(1), pages 185-206, March.
    9. Federico Carril-Caccia & Aitor Garmendia-Lazcano & Asier Minondo, 2023. "Social ties and home bias in mergers and acquisitions," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 159(3), pages 563-593, August.
    10. Uzar, Umut, 2024. "The dynamic effect of income distribution, natural resources, and freedom of press on ecological footprint: Theory and empirical evidence for emerging economies," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    11. Umut Uzar, 2023. "Income Inequality, Institutions, and Freedom of the Press: Potential Mechanisms and Evidence," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-23, August.
    12. Alan Bandeira Pinheiro & Gabriel Gusso Mazzo & Gabriele da Cunha Lopes & Manuel Castelo Branco, 2023. "A Bird’s Eye View: Uncovering the Impact of Stakeholder Pressure on Sustainable Development Goal Disclosure," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-15, November.
    13. Musa Khan & Wu Chao & Muhammad Atif Khan & Mohammed Arshad Khan & Ahsanuddin Haider, 2025. "The role of natural resources and press freedom in sustainable development," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 49(1), pages 863-883, February.

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