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The Size of the Government and Economic Growth. An Empirical Study of Sri Lanka

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  • Herath, Shanaka

Abstract

The new growth theory establishes, among other things, that government expenditure can manipulate economic growth of a country. This study attempts to explain whether government expenditure increases or decreases economic growth in the context of Sri Lanka. Results obtained applying an analytical framework based on time series and second degree polynomial regressions are generally consistent with previous findings: government expenditure and economic growth are positively correlated; excessive government expenditure is negatively correlated with economic growth; and an open economy promotes growth. In a separate section, the paper examines Armey's (1995) idea of a quadratic curve that explains the level of government expenditure in an economy and the corresponding level of economic growth. The findings confirm the possibility of constructing the Armey curve for Sri Lanka, and it estimates the optimal level of government expenditure to be approximately 27 per cent. This paper adds to the literature indicating that the Armey curve is a reality not only for developed economies, but also for developing economies.(author's abstract)
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  • Herath, Shanaka, 2009. "The Size of the Government and Economic Growth. An Empirical Study of Sri Lanka," SRE-Discussion Papers 2009/08, WU Vienna University of Economics and Business.
    • Handle: RePEc:wiw:wus009:516
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    Cited by:

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    2. Wanjuu Zungwe Lazarus & Hlalefang Khobai & Pierre Le Roux, 2017. "Government Size and Economic Growth in Africa and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Countries," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 7(4), pages 628-637.
    3. Hüseyin Şen & Ayşe Kaya & Ayşegül Durucan, 2023. "New insights into the growth-maximizing size of government: evidence and implications for Turkey," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 56(4), pages 2243-2296, August.
    4. R.A.Susantha Kumara Ranasinghe & Ichihashi Masaru, 2014. "The Composition of Government Expenditure and Economic Growth : The Case of Sri Lanka," IDEC DP2 Series 4-7, Hiroshima University, Graduate School for International Development and Cooperation (IDEC).
    5. Cosimo Magazzino, 2014. "Government Size and Economic Growth in Italy: An Empirical Analyses Based On New Data (1861-2008)," International Journal of Empirical Finance, Research Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 3(2), pages 38-54.
    6. LONZO LUBU, Gastonfils, 2014. "Taille Optimale De L’Etat En Rd Congo [Optimal Size Of Government In The Democratic Republic Of Congo]," MPRA Paper 60715, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Milan Eliskovski, 2018. "Investigating credit transmission mechanism in the Republic of Macedonia: evidence from Vector Error Correction Model," Working Papers 2018-02, National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia.
    8. Selvanathan, Eliyathamby A. & Selvanathan, Saroja & Jayasinghe, Maneka Savithri, 2021. "Revisiting Wagner’s and Keynesian’s propositions and the relationship between sectoral government expenditure and economic growth," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 355-370.
    9. Facchini, François & Melki, Mickaël, 2013. "Efficient government size: France in the 20th century," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 1-14.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Sri Lanka; Wirtschaftswachstum; öffentliche Ausgaben;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C32 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Time-Series Models; Dynamic Quantile Regressions; Dynamic Treatment Effect Models; Diffusion Processes; State Space Models
    • F43 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Economic Growth of Open Economies
    • H50 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - General

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