This paper revisits the hypothesis that landlocked regions are systematically poorer than regions with ocean access, using panel data for 1,527 subnational regions in 83 nations from 1950-2014. This data structure allows us to exploit within-country-time variation only (e.g., regional variation...

On this paper we examine the relationships between state capacity, approximated by the Composite Index of National Capabilities, and certain macroeconomic and financial variables. Particularly, we study the nexus of their interactions by focusing on the G-20 economies from 1980 to 2020 by...

This paper presents a Markov switching dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model designed to evaluate the macroeconomic return of adaptation investment to natural disasters (NDs) and the impact of climate change. While the model follows the existing literature in assuming that NDs destroy a...

As nations struggle to restart their economy after COVID-19 lockdowns, calls to include green investments in a pandemic-related stimulus are growing. Yet little research provides evidence of the effectiveness of a green stimulus. We begin by summarizing recent research on the effectiveness of...

The flow of foreign direct investment (FDI) has increased the challenges governments face in carrying out their fiscal responsibilities. A country’s system of law and order enables or constrains the implementation of government policies, and consequently influences whether the size of...

The modern fiscal decentralization development across the world has been in part driven by assertions of a supposed ‘economic dividend’ linked with local spending. There is, however, little empirical evidence to validate these assertions in Kenya. It is against this background that this...

The Global Financial Crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic were two major shocks to the world economy in the 21st century. In this study, we analyze the patterns of recessions and recoveries of 101 advanced and developing economies. We identify the turning points of recessions and expansions between...

This paper uses an overlapping generations model with international labor mobility and a politically responsive fiscal policy to examine aging in developed and developing regions. Migrant workers change the political structure composed of young and elderly voters in both labor-receiving and...

In our increasingly globalized economy, global competitiveness of countries and means to measure it gain increasing significance. One of the ways to measure it is by comparing an extent of economic freedom that countries have, which as surveys show can also largely explain differences in living...

This paper explores whether a state's dual role – wearing these two ‘hats' of a regulator (preacher) and a (practicing) party – has ostensibly demonstrated an inconsistent and imbalanced approach. It asks whether states really practice what they preach. This paper then addresses whether...