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The nexus between economic freedom and growth: Evidence from CEE countries in transition

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  • Gurgul, Henryk
  • Lach, Łukasz

Abstract

This study sought to examine the causal links between economic freedom and economic growth of new EU members in transition in the period 2000-2009. The empirical results suggest significant causality running from monetary and fiscal freedom, trade openness, regulation of credit, labour, and business, legal structure and security of property rights, and access to sound money to growth, especially in less and moderately developed CEE transition countries. Moreover, we found evidence that economic freedom was one of the factors stimulating the convergence of these economies towards rich EU members. The evidence of causality in the opposite direction was much weaker.

Suggested Citation

  • Gurgul, Henryk & Lach, Łukasz, 2011. "The nexus between economic freedom and growth: Evidence from CEE countries in transition," MPRA Paper 37434, University Library of Munich, Germany.
  • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:37434
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Nguyen Tan Hung & Tran Thi Kim Oanh & Chu Thi Thanh Trang, 2024. "The impact of economic freedom on economic growth in countries with high and low regulatory quality—lessons for Viet Nam," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-15, December.
    3. Gurgul, Henryk & Lach, Łukasz, 2014. "Globalization and economic growth: Evidence from two decades of transition in CEE," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 99-107.
    4. Renato Santiago & José Alberto Fuinhas & António Cardoso Marques, 2020. "The impact of globalization and economic freedom on economic growth: the case of the Latin America and Caribbean countries," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 53(1), pages 61-85, February.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    economic growth; economic freedom; CEE transition economies;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General
    • O40 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - General

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