How Can Public Spending Help You Grow? An Empirical Analysis for Developing Countries

Although many studies indicate that both the level and composition of public spending are significant for economic growth, the results in the empirical literature are still mixed. This paper studies the importance of country sample selection and ex...

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Main Authors: Bayraktar, Nihal, Moreno-Dodson, Blanca
Format: Policy Research Working Paper
Language:English
Published: 2012
Subjects:
TAX
Online Access:http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20100720152334
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/3851
id okr-10986-3851
recordtype oai_dc
repository_type Digital Repository
institution_category Foreign Institution
institution Digital Repositories
building World Bank Open Knowledge Repository
collection World Bank
language English
topic ALLOCATION
AVERAGE PRODUCTIVITY
BANK POLICY
BOND
BUDGET BALANCE
BUDGET DEFICIT
BUDGET SURPLUS
BUSINESS CYCLE
BUSINESS CYCLES
CAPITAL ACCUMULATION
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE
CAPITAL SPENDING
CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE
CIVIL SERVICE
COEFFICIENTS
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS
COMPARATIVE ECONOMIC STUDIES
COMPARISON GROUP
COMPOSITION OF GOVERNMENT SPENDING
COMPOSITION OF PUBLIC SPENDING
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX
CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURE
CORRELATION COEFFICIENT
COUNTRY CHARACTERISTICS
COUNTRY DATA
COUNTRY INITIAL
COUNTRY LEVEL
COUNTRY RISK
COUNTRY SPECIFIC
CREATIVE ACCOUNTING
CREDIBILITY
CROSS-COUNTRY ANALYSIS
CURRENT EXPENDITURES
DATA ANALYSIS
DATA AVAILABILITY
DEBT
DECISION-MAKING
DEFENSE EXPENDITURES
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DOMESTIC INVESTMENT
DUMMY VARIABLE
DUMMY VARIABLES
DYNAMIC PANEL
ECONOMETRIC TECHNIQUES
ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ECONOMIC GROWTH
ECONOMIC POLICY
ECONOMIC POLICY ENVIRONMENT
EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE
EMPIRICAL LITERATURE
EMPIRICAL RESULTS
EMPIRICAL STUDIES
EMPLOYMENT EQUATIONS
EQUIPMENT
ESTIMATED COEFFICIENT
ESTIMATED COEFFICIENTS
ESTIMATION RESULTS
ESTIMATION TECHNIQUES
EXPENDITURE
EXPENDITURE CLASSIFICATION
EXPENDITURE COMPOSITION
EXPENDITURES
EXPENDITURES ON HEALTH
FINANCES
FINANCIAL CRISES
FINANCIAL STATISTICS
FISCAL ADJUSTMENT
FISCAL AFFAIRS
FISCAL BALANCE
FISCAL EXPENDITURES
FISCAL POLICIES
FISCAL POLICY
FISCAL REVENUE
FISCAL RULES
FIXED CAPITAL
GOLDEN RULE
GOVERNMENT BUDGET
GOVERNMENT BUDGET CONSTRAINT
GOVERNMENT CONSUMPTION
GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE
GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURES
GOVERNMENT FINANCING
GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT
GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT
GOVERNMENT REVENUE
GOVERNMENT SPENDING
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT
GROSS FIXED CAPITAL FORMATION
GROWTH CONTEXT
GROWTH IMPACT
GROWTH MODEL
GROWTH PERFORMANCE
GROWTH RATE
GROWTH RATES
HEALTH EXPENDITURE
HEALTH SERVICES
HEALTH SPENDING
HIGH GROWTH
HOUSING
HUMAN CAPITAL
INCREASE GROWTH
INCREASES GROWTH
INDEPENDENT VARIABLES
INDUSTRIAL SECTOR
INEFFICIENT PROVISION
INFLATION
INFLATION RATE
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS
INSURANCE
INTERNATIONAL BANK
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
LABOR FORCE
LAGGED VALUE
LAGGED VALUES
LEVEL OF PUBLIC SPENDING
LIABILITY
LONG RUN
LONG-RUN GROWTH
LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES
LOWER TAXES
MACROECONOMIC POLICIES
MACROECONOMIC STABILITY
MACROECONOMIC VARIABLES
MEAN GROWTH
MILITARY EXPENDITURES
MONETARY FUND
NATURAL RESOURCES
NEGATIVE IMPACT
NEGATIVE INCENTIVES
NEGATIVE SIGN
NET BORROWING
NET DEBT
NET LENDING
PANEL REGRESSIONS
PER CAPITA GROWTH
POLICY ENVIRONMENT
POLICY FORMULATION
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
POLICY MAKERS
POLICY RESEARCH
POLITICAL ECONOMY
POVERTY REDUCTION
PRICE INDEX
PRIVATE CAPITAL
PRIVATE INVESTMENT
PRIVATE INVESTORS
PRIVATE SECTOR
PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT
PUBLIC
PUBLIC ASSETS
PUBLIC CAPITAL
PUBLIC CHOICE
PUBLIC CONSUMPTION
PUBLIC ECONOMICS
PUBLIC EDUCATION
PUBLIC EDUCATION EXPENDITURE
PUBLIC EXPENDITURE
PUBLIC EXPENDITURES
PUBLIC FUNDS
PUBLIC HEALTH
PUBLIC HEALTH EXPENDITURE
PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE
PUBLIC INVESTMENT
PUBLIC INVESTMENTS
PUBLIC SECTOR
PUBLIC SECTOR INVESTMENTS
PUBLIC SERVICES
PUBLIC SPENDING
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
PUBLIC WORKS
QUALITY OF EDUCATION
REDUCING INFLATION
RICH COUNTRIES
ROADS
RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE
SIGNIFICANT EFFECT
SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
SIZE OF GOVERNMENT
SOCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS
SOCIAL EXPENDITURE
SOCIAL SECURITY
SOCIAL SECURITY CONTRIBUTIONS
SOCIAL SPENDING
SUB-NATIONAL
TAX
TAX RATE
TAX RATES
TAX REVENUE
TAX REVENUES
TAX STRUCTURE
TAXATION
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
TOTAL EXPENDITURES
TOTAL GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE
TOTAL PUBLIC EXPENDITURE
TOTAL PUBLIC EXPENDITURES
TOTAL PUBLIC SPENDING
TRANSFER PAYMENTS
TRANSITION ECONOMIES
spellingShingle ALLOCATION
AVERAGE PRODUCTIVITY
BANK POLICY
BOND
BUDGET BALANCE
BUDGET DEFICIT
BUDGET SURPLUS
BUSINESS CYCLE
BUSINESS CYCLES
CAPITAL ACCUMULATION
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE
CAPITAL SPENDING
CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE
CIVIL SERVICE
COEFFICIENTS
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS
COMPARATIVE ECONOMIC STUDIES
COMPARISON GROUP
COMPOSITION OF GOVERNMENT SPENDING
COMPOSITION OF PUBLIC SPENDING
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX
CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURE
CORRELATION COEFFICIENT
COUNTRY CHARACTERISTICS
COUNTRY DATA
COUNTRY INITIAL
COUNTRY LEVEL
COUNTRY RISK
COUNTRY SPECIFIC
CREATIVE ACCOUNTING
CREDIBILITY
CROSS-COUNTRY ANALYSIS
CURRENT EXPENDITURES
DATA ANALYSIS
DATA AVAILABILITY
DEBT
DECISION-MAKING
DEFENSE EXPENDITURES
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DOMESTIC INVESTMENT
DUMMY VARIABLE
DUMMY VARIABLES
DYNAMIC PANEL
ECONOMETRIC TECHNIQUES
ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ECONOMIC GROWTH
ECONOMIC POLICY
ECONOMIC POLICY ENVIRONMENT
EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE
EMPIRICAL LITERATURE
EMPIRICAL RESULTS
EMPIRICAL STUDIES
EMPLOYMENT EQUATIONS
EQUIPMENT
ESTIMATED COEFFICIENT
ESTIMATED COEFFICIENTS
ESTIMATION RESULTS
ESTIMATION TECHNIQUES
EXPENDITURE
EXPENDITURE CLASSIFICATION
EXPENDITURE COMPOSITION
EXPENDITURES
EXPENDITURES ON HEALTH
FINANCES
FINANCIAL CRISES
FINANCIAL STATISTICS
FISCAL ADJUSTMENT
FISCAL AFFAIRS
FISCAL BALANCE
FISCAL EXPENDITURES
FISCAL POLICIES
FISCAL POLICY
FISCAL REVENUE
FISCAL RULES
FIXED CAPITAL
GOLDEN RULE
GOVERNMENT BUDGET
GOVERNMENT BUDGET CONSTRAINT
GOVERNMENT CONSUMPTION
GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE
GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURES
GOVERNMENT FINANCING
GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT
GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT
GOVERNMENT REVENUE
GOVERNMENT SPENDING
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT
GROSS FIXED CAPITAL FORMATION
GROWTH CONTEXT
GROWTH IMPACT
GROWTH MODEL
GROWTH PERFORMANCE
GROWTH RATE
GROWTH RATES
HEALTH EXPENDITURE
HEALTH SERVICES
HEALTH SPENDING
HIGH GROWTH
HOUSING
HUMAN CAPITAL
INCREASE GROWTH
INCREASES GROWTH
INDEPENDENT VARIABLES
INDUSTRIAL SECTOR
INEFFICIENT PROVISION
INFLATION
INFLATION RATE
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS
INSURANCE
INTERNATIONAL BANK
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
LABOR FORCE
LAGGED VALUE
LAGGED VALUES
LEVEL OF PUBLIC SPENDING
LIABILITY
LONG RUN
LONG-RUN GROWTH
LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES
LOWER TAXES
MACROECONOMIC POLICIES
MACROECONOMIC STABILITY
MACROECONOMIC VARIABLES
MEAN GROWTH
MILITARY EXPENDITURES
MONETARY FUND
NATURAL RESOURCES
NEGATIVE IMPACT
NEGATIVE INCENTIVES
NEGATIVE SIGN
NET BORROWING
NET DEBT
NET LENDING
PANEL REGRESSIONS
PER CAPITA GROWTH
POLICY ENVIRONMENT
POLICY FORMULATION
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
POLICY MAKERS
POLICY RESEARCH
POLITICAL ECONOMY
POVERTY REDUCTION
PRICE INDEX
PRIVATE CAPITAL
PRIVATE INVESTMENT
PRIVATE INVESTORS
PRIVATE SECTOR
PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT
PUBLIC
PUBLIC ASSETS
PUBLIC CAPITAL
PUBLIC CHOICE
PUBLIC CONSUMPTION
PUBLIC ECONOMICS
PUBLIC EDUCATION
PUBLIC EDUCATION EXPENDITURE
PUBLIC EXPENDITURE
PUBLIC EXPENDITURES
PUBLIC FUNDS
PUBLIC HEALTH
PUBLIC HEALTH EXPENDITURE
PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE
PUBLIC INVESTMENT
PUBLIC INVESTMENTS
PUBLIC SECTOR
PUBLIC SECTOR INVESTMENTS
PUBLIC SERVICES
PUBLIC SPENDING
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
PUBLIC WORKS
QUALITY OF EDUCATION
REDUCING INFLATION
RICH COUNTRIES
ROADS
RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE
SIGNIFICANT EFFECT
SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
SIZE OF GOVERNMENT
SOCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS
SOCIAL EXPENDITURE
SOCIAL SECURITY
SOCIAL SECURITY CONTRIBUTIONS
SOCIAL SPENDING
SUB-NATIONAL
TAX
TAX RATE
TAX RATES
TAX REVENUE
TAX REVENUES
TAX STRUCTURE
TAXATION
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
TOTAL EXPENDITURES
TOTAL GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE
TOTAL PUBLIC EXPENDITURE
TOTAL PUBLIC EXPENDITURES
TOTAL PUBLIC SPENDING
TRANSFER PAYMENTS
TRANSITION ECONOMIES
Bayraktar, Nihal
Moreno-Dodson, Blanca
How Can Public Spending Help You Grow? An Empirical Analysis for Developing Countries
geographic_facet The World Region
The World Region
relation Policy Research working paper ; no. WPS 5367
description Although many studies indicate that both the level and composition of public spending are significant for economic growth, the results in the empirical literature are still mixed. This paper studies the importance of country sample selection and expenditure classification in explaining these conflicting results. It investigates a set of fast-growing countries versus a mix of countries with different growth patterns. The regression specifications include different components of public expenditure and total fiscal revenues, always considering the overall government budget constraint. Total public spending is first disaggregated using a definition that classifies public spending as productive versus unproductive components, an a priori criterion that is based on the expected impact of public spending items on the private sector production function. After empirically confirming the validity of this definition in the panel analysis, the authors suggest and test an alternative definition of "core" public spending that may be more appropriate for developing countries. The empirical analysis shows that the link between growth and public spending, especially the productive and "core" components, is strong only for the fast-growing group. In addition, macroeconomic stability, openness, and private sector investment are significant in the fast-growing group, which points to the existence of an economic policy environment more conducive to growth in the first group of countries. The authors conclude that public spending can be a significant determinant of growth for countries that are capable of using funds for productive purposes.
format Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper
author Bayraktar, Nihal
Moreno-Dodson, Blanca
author_facet Bayraktar, Nihal
Moreno-Dodson, Blanca
author_sort Bayraktar, Nihal
title How Can Public Spending Help You Grow? An Empirical Analysis for Developing Countries
title_short How Can Public Spending Help You Grow? An Empirical Analysis for Developing Countries
title_full How Can Public Spending Help You Grow? An Empirical Analysis for Developing Countries
title_fullStr How Can Public Spending Help You Grow? An Empirical Analysis for Developing Countries
title_full_unstemmed How Can Public Spending Help You Grow? An Empirical Analysis for Developing Countries
title_sort how can public spending help you grow? an empirical analysis for developing countries
publishDate 2012
url http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20100720152334
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/3851
_version_ 1764388667918385152
spelling okr-10986-38512021-04-23T14:02:13Z How Can Public Spending Help You Grow? An Empirical Analysis for Developing Countries Bayraktar, Nihal Moreno-Dodson, Blanca ALLOCATION AVERAGE PRODUCTIVITY BANK POLICY BOND BUDGET BALANCE BUDGET DEFICIT BUDGET SURPLUS BUSINESS CYCLE BUSINESS CYCLES CAPITAL ACCUMULATION CAPITAL EXPENDITURE CAPITAL SPENDING CENTRAL GOVERNMENT CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE CIVIL SERVICE COEFFICIENTS COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS COMPARATIVE ECONOMIC STUDIES COMPARISON GROUP COMPOSITION OF GOVERNMENT SPENDING COMPOSITION OF PUBLIC SPENDING CONSUMER PRICE INDEX CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURE CORRELATION COEFFICIENT COUNTRY CHARACTERISTICS COUNTRY DATA COUNTRY INITIAL COUNTRY LEVEL COUNTRY RISK COUNTRY SPECIFIC CREATIVE ACCOUNTING CREDIBILITY CROSS-COUNTRY ANALYSIS CURRENT EXPENDITURES DATA ANALYSIS DATA AVAILABILITY DEBT DECISION-MAKING DEFENSE EXPENDITURES DEVELOPED COUNTRIES DEVELOPING COUNTRIES DOMESTIC INVESTMENT DUMMY VARIABLE DUMMY VARIABLES DYNAMIC PANEL ECONOMETRIC TECHNIQUES ECONOMIC AFFAIRS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ECONOMIC GROWTH ECONOMIC POLICY ECONOMIC POLICY ENVIRONMENT EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE EMPIRICAL LITERATURE EMPIRICAL RESULTS EMPIRICAL STUDIES EMPLOYMENT EQUATIONS EQUIPMENT ESTIMATED COEFFICIENT ESTIMATED COEFFICIENTS ESTIMATION RESULTS ESTIMATION TECHNIQUES EXPENDITURE EXPENDITURE CLASSIFICATION EXPENDITURE COMPOSITION EXPENDITURES EXPENDITURES ON HEALTH FINANCES FINANCIAL CRISES FINANCIAL STATISTICS FISCAL ADJUSTMENT FISCAL AFFAIRS FISCAL BALANCE FISCAL EXPENDITURES FISCAL POLICIES FISCAL POLICY FISCAL REVENUE FISCAL RULES FIXED CAPITAL GOLDEN RULE GOVERNMENT BUDGET GOVERNMENT BUDGET CONSTRAINT GOVERNMENT CONSUMPTION GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURES GOVERNMENT FINANCING GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT GOVERNMENT REVENUE GOVERNMENT SPENDING GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT GROSS FIXED CAPITAL FORMATION GROWTH CONTEXT GROWTH IMPACT GROWTH MODEL GROWTH PERFORMANCE GROWTH RATE GROWTH RATES HEALTH EXPENDITURE HEALTH SERVICES HEALTH SPENDING HIGH GROWTH HOUSING HUMAN CAPITAL INCREASE GROWTH INCREASES GROWTH INDEPENDENT VARIABLES INDUSTRIAL SECTOR INEFFICIENT PROVISION INFLATION INFLATION RATE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS INSURANCE INTERNATIONAL BANK INTERNATIONAL TRADE LABOR FORCE LAGGED VALUE LAGGED VALUES LEVEL OF PUBLIC SPENDING LIABILITY LONG RUN LONG-RUN GROWTH LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES LOWER TAXES MACROECONOMIC POLICIES MACROECONOMIC STABILITY MACROECONOMIC VARIABLES MEAN GROWTH MILITARY EXPENDITURES MONETARY FUND NATURAL RESOURCES NEGATIVE IMPACT NEGATIVE INCENTIVES NEGATIVE SIGN NET BORROWING NET DEBT NET LENDING PANEL REGRESSIONS PER CAPITA GROWTH POLICY ENVIRONMENT POLICY FORMULATION POLICY IMPLICATIONS POLICY MAKERS POLICY RESEARCH POLITICAL ECONOMY POVERTY REDUCTION PRICE INDEX PRIVATE CAPITAL PRIVATE INVESTMENT PRIVATE INVESTORS PRIVATE SECTOR PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT PUBLIC PUBLIC ASSETS PUBLIC CAPITAL PUBLIC CHOICE PUBLIC CONSUMPTION PUBLIC ECONOMICS PUBLIC EDUCATION PUBLIC EDUCATION EXPENDITURE PUBLIC EXPENDITURE PUBLIC EXPENDITURES PUBLIC FUNDS PUBLIC HEALTH PUBLIC HEALTH EXPENDITURE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE PUBLIC INVESTMENT PUBLIC INVESTMENTS PUBLIC SECTOR PUBLIC SECTOR INVESTMENTS PUBLIC SERVICES PUBLIC SPENDING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC WORKS QUALITY OF EDUCATION REDUCING INFLATION RICH COUNTRIES ROADS RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE SIGNIFICANT EFFECT SIGNIFICANT IMPACT SIZE OF GOVERNMENT SOCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS SOCIAL EXPENDITURE SOCIAL SECURITY SOCIAL SECURITY CONTRIBUTIONS SOCIAL SPENDING SUB-NATIONAL TAX TAX RATE TAX RATES TAX REVENUE TAX REVENUES TAX STRUCTURE TAXATION TOTAL EXPENDITURE TOTAL EXPENDITURES TOTAL GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE TOTAL PUBLIC EXPENDITURE TOTAL PUBLIC EXPENDITURES TOTAL PUBLIC SPENDING TRANSFER PAYMENTS TRANSITION ECONOMIES Although many studies indicate that both the level and composition of public spending are significant for economic growth, the results in the empirical literature are still mixed. This paper studies the importance of country sample selection and expenditure classification in explaining these conflicting results. It investigates a set of fast-growing countries versus a mix of countries with different growth patterns. The regression specifications include different components of public expenditure and total fiscal revenues, always considering the overall government budget constraint. Total public spending is first disaggregated using a definition that classifies public spending as productive versus unproductive components, an a priori criterion that is based on the expected impact of public spending items on the private sector production function. After empirically confirming the validity of this definition in the panel analysis, the authors suggest and test an alternative definition of "core" public spending that may be more appropriate for developing countries. The empirical analysis shows that the link between growth and public spending, especially the productive and "core" components, is strong only for the fast-growing group. In addition, macroeconomic stability, openness, and private sector investment are significant in the fast-growing group, which points to the existence of an economic policy environment more conducive to growth in the first group of countries. The authors conclude that public spending can be a significant determinant of growth for countries that are capable of using funds for productive purposes. 2012-03-19T18:40:57Z 2012-03-19T18:40:57Z 2010-07-01 http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20100720152334 http://hdl.handle.net/10986/3851 English Policy Research working paper ; no. WPS 5367 CC BY 3.0 IGO http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/ World Bank Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper The World Region The World Region