Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP16436
Authors: Jorge de Macedo; Joaquim Oliveira Martins; João Tovar Jalles
Abstract: Using a large panel for 95 countries and the 1972-2014 period, this paper analyses the interactions among globalization, political & civil rights and economic convergence, through a simultaneous estimation technique. We use a multi-dimensional, de facto, and continuous measures of Freedoms and Globalization. We find a two-way positive relationship between civil liberties & political rights and economic, political and social Globalization, as well as significant two-way relationships with the economic convergence (using as a proxy the ratio of GDP per capita to the US). In this way, we extend the test for the two-way relationship between Democracy and Globalization put forward by Eichengreen and Leblang (2008). Overall, we also find a virtuous cycle between Globalization, Freedoms and Economic convergence, except for non-OECD countries at early intermediate stages of development. This positive systemic effect can be put into question by the recent negative shocks on Globalization and Freedoms related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Keywords: globalization; democracy; freedoms; development; convergence; panel data; three stage least squares
JEL Codes: F02; F10; F13; F63
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| civil liberties (K38) | economic globalization (F69) |
| political rights (P26) | economic globalization (F69) |
| economic globalization (F69) | economic convergence (F62) |
| civil liberties (K38) | economic convergence (F62) |
| political rights (P26) | economic convergence (F62) |
| economic globalization (F69) | civil liberties (K38) |
| economic globalization (F69) | political rights (P26) |