Sharp Instrument: A Stab at Identifying the Causes of Economic Growth

Sharp Instrument: A Stab at Identifying the Causes of Economic Growth PDF Author: Reda Cherif
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1484357175
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 24

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Book Description
We shed new light on the determinants of growth by tackling the blunt and weak instrument problems in the empirical growth literature. As an instrument for each endogenous variable, we propose average values of the same variable in neighboring countries. This method has the advantage of producing variable-specific and time-varying—namely, “sharp”—and strong instruments. We find that export sophistication is the only robust determinant of growth among standard growth determinants such as human capital, trade, financial development, and institutions. Our results suggest that other growth determinants may be important to the extent they help improve export sophistication.

Sharp Instrument: A Stab at Identifying the Causes of Economic Growth

Sharp Instrument: A Stab at Identifying the Causes of Economic Growth PDF Author: Reda Cherif
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1484357175
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 24

Get Book Here

Book Description
We shed new light on the determinants of growth by tackling the blunt and weak instrument problems in the empirical growth literature. As an instrument for each endogenous variable, we propose average values of the same variable in neighboring countries. This method has the advantage of producing variable-specific and time-varying—namely, “sharp”—and strong instruments. We find that export sophistication is the only robust determinant of growth among standard growth determinants such as human capital, trade, financial development, and institutions. Our results suggest that other growth determinants may be important to the extent they help improve export sophistication.

Sharp Instrument: A Stab at Identifying the Causes of Economic Growth

Sharp Instrument: A Stab at Identifying the Causes of Economic Growth PDF Author: Reda Cherif
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1484358066
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 24

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Book Description
We shed new light on the determinants of growth by tackling the blunt and weak instrument problems in the empirical growth literature. As an instrument for each endogenous variable, we propose average values of the same variable in neighboring countries. This method has the advantage of producing variable-specific and time-varying—namely, “sharp”—and strong instruments. We find that export sophistication is the only robust determinant of growth among standard growth determinants such as human capital, trade, financial development, and institutions. Our results suggest that other growth determinants may be important to the extent they help improve export sophistication.

The Heavy Economic Toll of Gender-based Violence: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa

The Heavy Economic Toll of Gender-based Violence: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa PDF Author: Rasmane Ouedraogo
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1557754071
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 39

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Book Description
The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns have led to a rise in gender-based violence. In this paper, we explore the economic consequences of violence against women in sub-Saharan Africa using large demographic and health survey data collected pre-pandemic. Relying on a two-stage least square method to address endogeneity, we find that an increase in the share of women subject to violence by 1 percentage point can reduce economic activities (as proxied by nightlights) by up to 8 percent. This economic cost results from a significant drop in female employment. Our results also show that violence against women is more detrimental to economic development in countries without protective laws against domestic violence, in natural resource rich countries, in countries where women are deprived of decision-making power and during economic downturns. Beyond the moral imperative, the findings highlight the importance of combating violence against women from an economic standpoint, particularly by reinforcing laws against domestic violence and strengthening women’s decision-making power.

Do Fiscal Rules Cause Better Fiscal Balances? A New Instrumental Variable Strategy

Do Fiscal Rules Cause Better Fiscal Balances? A New Instrumental Variable Strategy PDF Author: Francesca G Caselli
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1498302831
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 27

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Book Description
This paper estimates the causal effect of fiscal rules on fiscal balances in a panel of 142 countries over the period 1985-2015. Our instrumental variable strategy exploits the geographical diffusion of fiscal rules across countries. The intuition is that reforms in neighboring countries may affect the adoption of domestic reforms through peer pressure and imitational effects. We find that fiscal rules correlate with lower deficits, but the positive link disappears when endogeneity is correctly addressed. However, when considering an index of fiscal rules’ design, we show that well-designed rules have a statistically significant impact on fiscal balances. We conduct several robustness tests and show that our results are not affected by weak instrument problems.

South Asia's Path to Resilient Growth

South Asia's Path to Resilient Growth PDF Author: Mr. Ranil M Salgado
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN:
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 351

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Book Description
South Asia’s Path to Sustainable and Inclusive Growth highlights the remarkable development progress in South Asia and how the region can advance in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Steps include a renewed push toward greater trade and financial openness, while responding proactively to the distributional impact and dislocation associated with this structural transformation. Promoting a green and digital recovery remains important. The book explores ways to accelerate the income convergence process in the region, leveraging on the still-large potential demographic dividend in most of the countries. These include greater economic diversification and export sophistication, trade and foreign direct investment liberalization and participation in global value chains amid shifting regional and global conditions, financial development, and investment in human capital.

Regional Economic Outlook, April 2019, Sub-Saharan Africa

Regional Economic Outlook, April 2019, Sub-Saharan Africa PDF Author: International Monetary Fund. African Dept.
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1498304117
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 69

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Book Description
The economic recovery in sub-Saharan Africa is expected to continue, but at a slower pace than envisaged in October 2018. This weaker outlook reflects domestic and external challenges. On the external side, the global expansion is losing momentum, including in China and the euro area, trade tensions remain elevated, global financial conditions have tightened, and commodity prices are expected to remain low. On the domestic front, security challenges, climate shocks, and policy uncertainty are hampering investment and weighing on economic prospects in several countries. Under current policies, medium-term average growth for the region is expected to continue to fall well short of what is needed to absorb the new entrants to the labor force and to deliver limited gains in living standards.

The Return of the Policy That Shall Not Be Named: Principles of Industrial Policy

The Return of the Policy That Shall Not Be Named: Principles of Industrial Policy PDF Author: Reda Cherif
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1498305407
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 79

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Book Description
Industrial policy is tainted with bad reputation among policymakers and academics and is often viewed as the road to perdition for developing economies. Yet the success of the Asian Miracles with industrial policy stands as an uncomfortable story that many ignore or claim it cannot be replicated. Using a theory and empirical evidence, we argue that one can learn more from miracles than failures. We suggest three key principles behind their success: (i) the support of domestic producers in sophisticated industries, beyond the initial comparative advantage; (ii) export orientation; and (iii) the pursuit of fierce competition with strict accountability.

The Handbook of Global Shadow Banking, Volume I

The Handbook of Global Shadow Banking, Volume I PDF Author: Luc Nijs
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3030347435
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 822

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Book Description
This global handbook provides an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of shadow banking, or market-based finance as it has been recently coined. Engaging in financial intermediary services outside of normal regulatory parameters, the shadow banking sector was arguably a critical factor in causing the 2007-2009 financial crisis. This volume focuses specifically on shadow banking activities, risk, policy and regulatory issues. It evaluates the nexus between policy design and regulatory output around the world, paying attention to the concept of risk in all its dimensions—the legal, financial, market, economic and monetary perspectives. Particular attention is given to spillover risk, contagion risk and systemic risk and their positioning and relevance in shadow banking activities. Newly introduced and incoming policies are evaluated in detail, as well as how risk is managed, observed and assessed, and how new regulation can potentially create new sources of risk. Volume I concludes with analysis of what will and still needs to happen in the event of another crisis. Proposing innovative suggestions for improvement, including a novel Pigovian tax to tame financial and systemic risks, this handbook is a must-read for professionals and policy-makers within the banking sector, as well as those researching economics and finance.

The Pitfalls of Protectionism: Import Substitution Vs. Export-Oriented Industrial Policy

The Pitfalls of Protectionism: Import Substitution Vs. Export-Oriented Industrial Policy PDF Author: Reda Cherif
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN:
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 41

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Book Description
Industrial policies pursued in many developing countries in the 1950s-1970s largely failed while the industrial policies of the Asian Miracles succeeded. We argue that a key factor of success is industrial policy with export orientation in contrast to import substitution. Exporting encouraged competition, economies of scale, innovation, and local integration and provided market signals to policymakers. Even in a large market such as India, import substitution policies in the automotive industry failed because of micromanagement and misaligned incentives. We also analyze the risk tradeoffs involved in various industrial policy strategies and their implications on the 21st century industrial policies. While state interventions may be needed to develop some new capabilities and industries, trade protectionism is neither a necessary nor a sufficient tool and will most likely be counterproductive.

A Diversification Strategy for South Asia

A Diversification Strategy for South Asia PDF Author: Weicheng Lian
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1513584790
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 49

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Book Description
While South Asia has gone a long way in diversifying their economies, there is substantial scope to do more. Some countries – India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka – can build on their existing production capabilities; others – Bangladesh, Bhutan, and the Maldives – would need to undertake a more concerted push. We identify key policies from a large set of potential determinants that explain the variation in export diversification and complexity across 189 countries from 1962 to 2018. Our analysis suggests that South Asia needs to invest in infrastructure, education, and R&D, facilitate bank credit to productive companies, and open to trade in order to diversify and move up the value chains. Given the COVID-19 pandemic, investing in digital technologies as part of the infrastructure push and improving education are of even greater importance to facilitate the ability to work remotely and assist resource reallocation away from the less viable sectors.