Has the finance–growth link been broken? Panel data evidence from Latin America and the Caribbean

This paper examines the two-way relationship between economic growth and financial development for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). The sample consists of 32 emerging and developing countries from LAC spanning the period 1970–2014. Controlling for country and time fixed effects, the first cent...

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Main Author: Kevin Williams
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Emerald Publishing 2018-09-01
Series:EconomiA
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1517758018300717
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author Kevin Williams
author_facet Kevin Williams
author_sort Kevin Williams
collection DOAJ
description This paper examines the two-way relationship between economic growth and financial development for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). The sample consists of 32 emerging and developing countries from LAC spanning the period 1970–2014. Controlling for country and time fixed effects, the first central finding indicates that financial development is not a significant factor driving economic growth. The evidence suggests however that larger government has a robust and significant effect on economic growth. The second key finding is that the effect of economic growth on financial development is not significantly different from zero. Together, these two main findings indicate that the finance–growth link in LAC has been broken over the 1970–2014 period. The empirical results inform economic debates in LAC and highlight the importance of public policy to improve the finance–growth relationship. JEL classifications: N16, O11, G21, Keywords: Financial development, Economic growth, LAC
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spelling doaj.art-d07208e841974fcabada2dd2d6d7d36d2022-12-22T00:50:48ZengEmerald PublishingEconomiA1517-75802018-09-01193404423Has the finance–growth link been broken? Panel data evidence from Latin America and the CaribbeanKevin Williams0Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies, The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, JamaicaThis paper examines the two-way relationship between economic growth and financial development for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). The sample consists of 32 emerging and developing countries from LAC spanning the period 1970–2014. Controlling for country and time fixed effects, the first central finding indicates that financial development is not a significant factor driving economic growth. The evidence suggests however that larger government has a robust and significant effect on economic growth. The second key finding is that the effect of economic growth on financial development is not significantly different from zero. Together, these two main findings indicate that the finance–growth link in LAC has been broken over the 1970–2014 period. The empirical results inform economic debates in LAC and highlight the importance of public policy to improve the finance–growth relationship. JEL classifications: N16, O11, G21, Keywords: Financial development, Economic growth, LAChttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1517758018300717
spellingShingle Kevin Williams
Has the finance–growth link been broken? Panel data evidence from Latin America and the Caribbean
EconomiA
title Has the finance–growth link been broken? Panel data evidence from Latin America and the Caribbean
title_full Has the finance–growth link been broken? Panel data evidence from Latin America and the Caribbean
title_fullStr Has the finance–growth link been broken? Panel data evidence from Latin America and the Caribbean
title_full_unstemmed Has the finance–growth link been broken? Panel data evidence from Latin America and the Caribbean
title_short Has the finance–growth link been broken? Panel data evidence from Latin America and the Caribbean
title_sort has the finance growth link been broken panel data evidence from latin america and the caribbean
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1517758018300717
work_keys_str_mv AT kevinwilliams hasthefinancegrowthlinkbeenbrokenpaneldataevidencefromlatinamericaandthecaribbean