Freedom and Growth: Do Constitutions Matter?

Xavier De Vanssay and Zane Spindler

Public Choice, 1994, vol. 78, issue 3-4, 359-72

Abstract: This paper uses an augmented Solow model with cross section data, to measure the effect on per-capita income of (1) the entrenchment of various rights in a country's constitution and (2) the level of economic freedom in a country, broadly construed. The results suggest that entrenchment, per se, of any single right seldom has a significant general economic effect, while the effect of economic freedom is significant and substantial. The paper then considers whether such evidence could support the proposition that 'constitutions do not matter.' While it concludes otherwise, it does caution against incurring excessive negotiation costs to obtain entrenchment of a comprehensive 'wish list' of rights. Copyright 1994 by Kluwer Academic Publishers

Date: 1994
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (59)

There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:kap:pubcho:v:78:y:1994:i:3-4:p:359-72

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.springer. ... ce/journal/11127/PS2

Access Statistics for this article

Public Choice is currently edited by WIlliam F. Shughart II

More articles in Public Choice from Springer
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().