Cross-country studies of growth and policy : methodological, conceptual, and statistical problems

This paper reviews the conceptual, methodological, and statistical problems associated with drawing inferences from cross-country regressions. The authors elaborate on the particular problems associated with empirical attempts to link particular policies with long-run growth. They hope to stimulate improvements in the design, implementation, and interpretability of cross-country investigations and to caution readers about the confidence they place in existing findings.