Does Democracy Impact Economic Growth? Exploring the Case of Bangladesh – A Cointegrated VAR Approach

Dasgupta, Shouro and Bhattacharya, Debapriya and Neethi, Dwitiya Jawher (2013): Does Democracy Impact Economic Growth? Exploring the Case of Bangladesh – A Cointegrated VAR Approach. Published in: CPD-CMI Working Paper Series

Abstract

The key socioeconomic indicators of Bangladesh have apparently experienced improvement since the advent of a new phase of democracy in 1991. This paper examines the impact of democracy on economic growth in Bangladesh using a cointegrated Vector Autoregressive model. Results suggest that democracy as practiced in Bangladesh does not seem to have a significantly positive impact on economic growth, and at the same time authoritarian regimes tend to have a significantly negative impact on economic growth. Inadequate democratic decision making practices, ineffective policy designs and weak policy making institutions are some of the likely causes behind this relationship. The situation is aggravated by the fact that the institutions do not positively alter the decision making behaviour even under democratically elected regimes.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Democracy, Economic Growth. Cointegration, VAR, and Polity IV
• Subjects: C - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods > C1 - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General > C10 - General; C - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods > C1 - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General > C12 - Hypothesis Testing: General; C - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods > C5 - Econometric Modeling > C51 - Model Construction and Estimation; E - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics > E1 - General Aggregative Models > E13 - Neoclassical; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O4 - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity > O43 - Institutions and Growth

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