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Governance institutions and Private Investment: An Application to the Middle East and North Africa

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  • Marie-Ange Véganzonès-Varoudakis

    (CERDI - Centre d'Études et de Recherches sur le Développement International - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - UCA - Université Clermont Auvergne)

  • A. Aysan
  • Mustapha Kamel Nabli

Abstract

This paper addresses the issue of the low level of private investment in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with special emphasis on the role of governance. Based on the existing published reports, we categorize what types of governance institutions are more detrimental to entrepreneurial investments. We then estimate a simultaneous model of private investment and governance quality where economic policies concurrently explain both variables. Our empirical results show that governance plays a significant role in private investment decisions. This result is particularly true in the case of "administrative quality" in the form of control of corruption, bureaucratic quality, investment-friendly profile of administration, law and order, as well as for "political stability." Evidence in favor of "public accountability" is also found. Our estimations also stress that structural reforms like financial development, trade openness, and human development affect private investment decisions directly, and/or through their positive effect on governance.

Suggested Citation

  • Marie-Ange Véganzonès-Varoudakis & A. Aysan & Mustapha Kamel Nabli, 2007. "Governance institutions and Private Investment: An Application to the Middle East and North Africa," Post-Print hal-00171771, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-00171771
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1746-1049.2007.00042.x
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