Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
5066450 European Economic Review 2016 24 Pages PDF
Abstract

This paper examines the role of institutions in the nexus between public spending and economic growth. Empirical results based on a newly assembled dataset of 80 countries over the 1970-2010 period suggest that particularly when institutions prompt governments to be accountable to the general citizen does public capital spending promote growth. Taking account of the type of financing for this spending, we show that the growth-promoting effect under an accountable government appears to prevail for various financing sources, including a reallocation from current spending, an increase in revenue, and a rise in the budget deficit. However, government accountability does not seem to play a key role in the growth effects of current spending.

Related Topics
Social Sciences and Humanities Economics, Econometrics and Finance Economics and Econometrics
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