Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-2013

Publication Title

Journal of Macroeconomics

Volume

38

Abstract

We employ a structural threshold regression methodology to investigate the heterogeneous effects of debt on growth using public debt as a threshold variable as well as several other plausible variables. Our methodology allows us to address parameter heterogeneity that characterizes cross-country growth data and at the same time account for endogeneity. We find strong evidence for threshold effects based on democracy, which implies that higher public debt results in lower growth for countries in the Low-Democracy regime. Our results are consistent with the presence of parameter heterogeneity in the cross-country growth process due to fundamental determinants of economic growth proposed by the new growth theories.

First Page

35

Last Page

43

DOI

10.1016/j.jmacro.2013.08.023

ISSN

0164-0704

Included in

Economics Commons

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