The paper reviews studies analysing the relationship between infrastructures and economic performance. Four different approaches are separately considered along an ideal path from theory-based to data-oriented models: the production function approach, the cost function approach, growth-models,...

The aim of this paper is to analyse, through a theoretical model, the effects that the trade integration of two countries may have on industrial location, growth and welfare. The conclusions reached finally depend both on whether the import or the export costs are affected by the trade policies...

The theory underpinning financial liberalization postulates that unregulated financial markets are growth-augmenting. Guyana has been a model reformer since 1988, implementing market-friendly policies. Growth performance, however, has been subdued. This paper argues that natural entry barriers...

Julian Simon has stated, in many of his recent publications, that population growth, although reducing income per capita in the short run through capital dilution, increases the rate of growth of that same income per capita in the long run (steady state) through technical progress brought about...

We present a dynamic model of capacity utilization and growth which takes into due account the joint determination of the international competitiveness (measured by the real exchange rate) and functional income distribution. It follows that how distribution, capacity utilization and growth vary...

Do adjustment policies assist or retard growth? This paper presents data on economic performance (aggregate and sectoral growth, inflation, investment and external account) for 20 countries. The data are classified on an annual basis according to the country’s policy stance in that year:...

Under some conditions, it is possible that foreign debt can cause fixed investment in a country to decline. Under those circumstances, economic growth will turn negative. This theoretical possibility is known as the debt overhang hypothesis. This study investigates the debt overhang hypothesis...

Long-term growth in developing countries has been explained in four frameworks: ‘extractive colonial institutions’ (Acemoglu et al., 2001), ‘colonial legal origin’ (La Porta et al., 2004) ‘geography’ (Gallup et al., 1998) and ‘colonial human capital’ (Glaeser et al., 2004). In...

The seminal and controversial work of Burnside and Dollar (2000) has been the basis for many subsequent empirical works on the growth effects of overseas development aid. This paper argues that the specifications used in these works are not consistent with the data and techniques used. We...