with Jan Babecký
Published in Journal of Comparative Economics 39 (2), 140-158, June
2011 (PDF)
There is still an intense controversy about the empirical support for the
effects of
structural reforms on economic growth. This paper uses data from 46 studies
and
more than 500 estimates to (a) document the variation in these estimated
effects
and (b) identify the main factors that help explain it. We put forward
evidence,
based on the general-to-specific method, suggesting that the estimated
long-run
effects of reform on growth are normally distributed, and that accounting
for
institutions and initial conditions (trade liberalization) are principal
factors in
decreasing (increasing) the probability of reporting significant and positive
effects
of reform on growth.
Download revised version here
Download working paper version:
CEPR DP
6215
IZA DP 2638