A growing literature relies on natural experiments to establish causal effects in macroeconomics. In diverse applications, natural experiments have been used to verify underlying assumptions of conventional models, quantify specific model parameters, and identify mechanisms that have major...

Using an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) technique, and the Granger causality test, this paper examines the dynamic relationship between economic growth, the size of the informal economy, and trade openness in Ghana. Our results provide evidence of a positive and bidirectional causality...

The three essays of this dissertation contribute to the measurement of European economic integration and investigate the welfare effects of the European countries. The first study presents a newly developed index – the EU Index – which measures the extent of economic integration into the...