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Institutions, Policies, & Cross-Country Differences in Income and Growth

GWARTNEY – STROUP – SOBEL – MACPHERSON

To Accompany: “Economics: Private and Public Choice, 15th ed.”

James Gwartney, Richard Stroup, Russell Sobel, & David Macpherson

Slides authored and animated by: James Gwartney & Charles Skipton

Full Length Text —

Macro Only Text —

Part: 3

Chapter: 17

First page

How Large are Income Differences Across Countries?

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Measuring Cross-Country Differences in Income

Countries use different currencies. Thus, the purchasing power of different currencies must be converted to a common denominator in order to compare incomes in different countries.

This could be done with exchange rates.

But, exchange rates are influenced by capital movements and will fail to reflect the prices of goods not traded in international markets.

They may be an inaccurate indicator of the purchasing power of different currencies.

Economists favor the purchasing power parity (PPP) method of income comparisons.

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Measuring Cross-Country Differences in Income

Economists favor the purchasing power parity (PPP) method of income comparisons.

This method uses the cost of purchasing a common bundle of goods consumed in each country and uses this cost to estimate the purchasing power of each currency.

The purchasing power of each currency is then used to convert the income levels of each country to a common currency, typically the U.S. dollar.

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Cross-Country Differences in Income

The following slide highlights the 2007 per person income for various high, middle and low-income countries.

The incomes in Norway, the US, and Hong Kong are the highest in the world, in excess of $39,000.

The per-person income in high-income countries is about 50 times the figure for the countries with the lowest incomes.

The incomes of less-developed countries will be understated because GDP figures generally omit household production.

Even after making some allowance for this, it is clear that the income differences between the high and low-income countries are huge.

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Cross-Country Differences in Income

The 2011 Per Person Income Levels for high-, Middle-, and Low-Income Countries

(measured in 2005 PPP U.S. dollars)

Hungary

Chile

Russia

Botswana

Mexico

Venezuela

Brazil

South Africa

$17,938

17,294

15,251

14,714

14,174

13,021

12,814

11,258

10,279

9,678

China

$7,418

Ukraine

6,365

5,547

Egypt

4,503

Philippines

4,094

India

3,638

3,223

Nigeria

2,237

Bangladesh

1,569

Uganda

1,188

Singapore

$53,591

Norway

46,971

Hong Kong

44,640

Ireland

42,486

Netherlands

39,385

United States

37,118

Australia

35,715

Germany

35,439

Switzerland

34,853

Canada

34,573

High-Income Countries

Middle-Income Countries

Low-Income Countries

Malaysia

Poland

Indonesia

Bolivia

Peru

Thailand

9,037

7,635

Malawi

789

Niger

642

United Kingdom

Japan

32,809

30,660

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How Do Growth Rates Vary Across Countries?

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Cross-Country Differences in Growth

The following slide shows the growth of per person GDP during 1990-2011 for the countries with the best and worst growth records, along with the figures for high-income countries.

The ten fastest growing economies were LDCs at the beginning of the 1980s. The two most populace countries, China and India, are on the high-growth list.

The average growth rate of the high-growth economies was 4.9% (three times that of the high-income countries). Thus they have closed the gap relative to their richer counterparts.

While LDCs dominate the high-growth list, those with the worst growth records were also LDCs. Countries on the right side of the table are not only poor, they are falling further and further behind.

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Economic Growth: 1990-2011

The Average Annual Growth Rate Per-Person GDP for High-Growth,

High-Income Industrial, and Low-Growth Countries (1990–2011)

Norway

The Netherlands

United Kingdom

United States

Canada

France

Japan

Italy

1.8%

1.7%

1.6%

1.4%

1.0%

0.7%

0.6%

Kyrgyz Repulic

-0.8%

Central African Republic

-0.8%

-0.9%

Cote d’Ivoire

-0.9%

Georgia

-1.1%

Burundi

-1.1%

-1.2%

Tajikistan

-1.7%

Moldova

-2.0%

Congo, Dem. Rep.

-3.0%

China

9.5%

Vietnam

5.9%

India

4.8%

Dominican Republic

4.4%

Korea, Rep.

4.3%

Taiwan

4.3%

Chile

4.0%

Poland

4.0%

Sri Lanka

3.8%

Panama

3.8%

High-Growth

High-Income Industrial

Low-Growth

Germany

Australia

Ukraine

Madagascar

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Economic Freedom as a Measure of Sound Institutions

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Economic Freedom as a Measure of Institutional Quality

Gains from trade, entrepreneurial discovery, and investment are largely dependent on institutions and policies supportive of voluntary exchange, market allocation, freedom to compete, and protection of people and their property from aggressors.

These ingredients comprise the foundation of economic freedom.

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The Economic Freedom of the World (EFW) index is designed to measure the consistency of a nation’s institutions and policies with economic freedom.

Leading scholars, including Nobel laureates Milton Friedman, Gary Becker, and Douglass North, helped to develop the EFW index.

The EFW index uses 42 separate components to measure the consistency of a nation’s institutions and policies with personal choice, voluntary exchange, open markets, and protection of private property.

Measuring Economic Freedom

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To achieve a high economic freedom (EFW) rating, a country must:

provide secure protection of privately owned property,

provide evenhanded enforcement of contracts,

provide a stable monetary environment,

keep taxes low,

refrain from creating barriers to both domestic and international trade, and,

rely more fully on markets rather than governments to allocate goods and resources.

The EFW index reflects the institutional and policy factors that theory indicates are key sources of economic growth.

Measuring Economic Freedom

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The Most and Least Free Economies of the World

Economic freedom (EFW) ratings are available for 113 countries during the 1990-2010 period.

The following slide indicates the ten highest and lowest rated economies, as well as the ratings of ten other large countries.

Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand, the United States, and Switzerland headed the list of the most persistently free economies.

Myanmar, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea-Bissau, Zimbabwe, and Algeria had the least free economies.

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EFW Ratings: 1990-2010

The Economic Freedom Rating for Top-, Middle-, and High-Rated Countries

EFW Index, Average 1990–2010

Germany

Chile

France

Indonesia

Mexico

Argentina

Brazil

China

7.7

7.5

7.2

6.9

6.6

6.5

6.1

5.6

5.5

Nigeria

4.9

Venezuela

4.8

Congo, Republic of

4.7

Algeria

4.6

Zimbabwe

4.5

Guinea-Bissau

4.4

Congo, Dem. Rep.

3.9

Myanmar

3.6

Hong Kong

8.9

Singapore

8.7

New Zealand

8.4

Australia

8.3

United Kingdom

8.3

United States

8.2

Ireland

8.2

The Netherlands

8.0

Switzerland

8.0

Canada

7.9

Top-Rated Countries

Middle-Rated Countries

Low-Rated Countries

South Korea

Japan

Burundi

Syria

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Questions for Thought:

Why do economists believe the purchasing power parity (PPP) method is a more accurate way to compare cross-country incomes than comparisons based on exchange rates?

How large are the income differences across countries? Why are the per capita GDP figures likely to overstate the size of the income difference between high- and low-income countries?

How do growth rates vary across countries? Are the rich countries getting richer while the poor are getting poorer?

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Questions for Thought:

4. What is the Economic Freedom of the World (EFW) index designed to measure? What determines whether the rating of a country will be high or low on this index?

5. “Economic freedom is present if a country is a political democracy.” – Is this statement true?

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Institutions, Policies, and Economic Performance

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Economic Freedom and Performance

If institutions and policies are important, then countries that are economically free should outperform those that are less free.

When considering the impact of institutions, it is important to focus on income and long-term growth rather than short-term growth, which may reflect mostly the ups and downs of business cycle conditions.

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Economic Freedom and Income

The real per-person income (using a PPP adjustment) for countries ordered by economic freedom rating is shown here by quartiles.

Note the strong positive linkage. Income per person in the freest quartile of countries was about seven times the figure for the least free.

Least-Free Quartile

Second Quartile

Most-Free Quartile

$5,188

$16,957

$37,691

2010 GDP Per Capita, PPP (in constant 2005 dollars)

Third Quartile

$6,596

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Economic Freedom and Growth

The relationship between the economic freedom of a country and its growth rate (of GDP per capita) during the 1990-2010 period is shown here.

Countries in the most free quartile grew at an annual rate of 3.6% compared to the 1.6% growth for the least-free quartile.

Least-Free Quartile

Second Quartile

Most-Free Quartile

1.6%

2.8%

3.6%

Growth of GDP Per Capita 1990-2010 (Annual %)

Third Quartile

2.4%

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Economic Freedom and Poverty

The extreme poverty rate in the most free quartile of countries was 2.7% compared to 41.5% in the least free quartile.

The pattern in the data for the moderate poverty rate is the same.

Clearly the countries with more economic freedom have lower poverty rates.

Least-Free Quartile

Second Quartile

Most-Free Quartile

41.5%

7.8%

2.7%

Extreme Poverty Rate (2000-2005)

Third Quartile

21.3%

Least-Free Quartile

Second Quartile

Most-Free Quartile

3.6%

36.3%

57.4%

Third Quartile

14.0%

Moderate Poverty Rate (2000-2005)

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Economic Freedom, Institutions, and Investment

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Economic Freedom and Private Investment

Here countries are divided into 3 groups, based upon their average EFW rating during 1980-2005.

Investment is positively linked to economic freedom.

Private investment was 18.7% of GDP in the freest group, while only 11.2% of GDP for the least free group.

< 5.0

> 7.0

Economic Freedom & Private Investment

as a Share of GDP (Groups are Average EFW Ratings for 1980-2005).

5.0 – 7.0

11.2%

18.7%

15.6%

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Economic Freedom and the Productivity of Private Investment

The estimated impact of a 1 percentage point increase in investment as a share of GDP on annual growth rate during 1980-2005 is shown.

In the most free group, a 1 percentage point increase in private investment enhanced long-term growth by 0.25%, compared to 0.07% for the least free group.

EFW < 5

EFW > 7

0.07%

0.25%

Change in Growth Rate Per Percentage-Point Change in Investment (1980 – 2005)

EFW 5-7

0.16%

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Economic Freedom – A Summary

Countries with institutions and policies more consistent with economic freedom (as measured by the EFW index) have achieved …

higher incomes per person,

more rapid growth rates,

lower poverty rates

higher investment rates, and,

greater productivity per unit of investment.

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Origins of Institutions

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The Influence of History

Research indicates that history matters.

Countries with colonial settlers who planned on staying tended to develop institutions and policies that protected individual property rights and limited the power of government.

The United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand provide examples.

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In contrast, colonizers settling in harsh climates or with short-term interests in the extraction of mineral resources were more likely to choose institutions that provided few limitations on the power of government and failed to provide for protection of ownership rights and unbiased enforcement of the law.

Even after independence, protective institutions have been largely absent in Africa and Latin America, where the European colonizers were primarily interested in resource extraction.

The Influence of History

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While no country can entirely escape its past, at least three factors have increased the likelihood of institutional change.

The colonial era is over – countries that were previously colonized by European powers are now in a position to make their own institutional and policy choices.

The collapse of communism has also expanded the opportunity for institutional change.

Substantial reductions in transportation and communication costs have increased the potential gains from the adoption of sound institutions and policies.

Three Factors That Now Make Institutional Change More Possible

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Recent Institutional Change and Economic Performance

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In the 1960s, Hong Kong and Singapore both began to liberalize their economies and by the 1970s they were among the world’s freest economies.

In 1960, Hong Kong & Singapore were poor; their income per capita was less than countries like Brazil, Argentina, and Venezuela.

Impressive growth has led to dramatic change.

The per capita incomes of Hong Kong and Singapore are now much greater than Latin American countries and greater than many high-income economies of Western Europe.

Major Reformers During the 1960s

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In the 1970s, China and Chile each began instituting key reforms. At the time, both were among the least free economies in the world. The reform process has increased their EFW ratings substantially.

The growth of each has been impressive.

China has been the world’s fastest growing economy during the 1980-2011 period.

Chile had an annual growth rate of 3.3% during the same period and now has the highest per capita income in South America.

Major Reformers During the 1970s

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The Reformers of the 1980s

Data for the 8 major reformers of the 1980s is shown here.

Since 1990, per capita income for the 1980s reformers has grown at an average annual rate of 2.5%.

The growth rates of Bangladesh, Ireland, and Mauritius have been particularly impressive.

Beginning Year of Change

2005 EFW Rating

Bangladesh

1987

6.0

Botswana

1985

7.2

Ghana

1985

6.2

Iceland

1988

7.8

Ireland

1987

7.9

Mauritius

1985

7.5

New Zealand

1985

8.5

United Kingdom

1980

8.1

Average

7.4

Growth 1990-2011

Growth

1995-2011

Per Capita GDP, 2011

3.6%

4.1%

$1,569

3.0%

3.6%

$13,021

2.9%

3.4%

$1,652

1.3%

1.9%

$33,514

3.2%

2.9%

$35,439

3.6%

3.5%

$12,733

1.1%

$24,429

1.6%

1.7%

$32,809

2.5%

2.8%

$19,396

Countries Beginning Reform During the 1980s

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The following slide presents data for the diverse countries adopting major reforms in the early 1990s.

The average growth rate of these 12 countries was 3.2% during the 1995-2011 period.

The growth of Estonia, India, and Poland have been particularly impressive.

It will be interesting to see if these countries will be able to sustain the economic reforms and follow their growth record in the years immediately ahead.

Major Reformers of the Early 1990s

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The Reformers of the 1990s

Beginning Year of Change

Growth

1995-2011

Per Capita GDP, 2009

Countries Beginning Reform During the 1990s

Costa Rica

1991

7.4

El Salvador

1994

7.6

Estonia

1995

8.0

Hungary

1995

7.5

India

1990

6.6

Israel

1991

7.1

Nicaragua

1994

6.5

Peru

1993

7.2

Average

7.0

2.5%

$10,735

1.7%

$6,032

5.3%

$18,130

2.5%

$17,294

5.3%

$3,223

1.7%

$26,719

2.2%

$3,366

3.4%

$9,037

3.2%

$9,702

Poland

1990

6.9

Tanzania

1995

6.3

Uganda

1995

6.5

Zambia

1996

6.7

4.4%

$17,938

3.3%

$1,336

3.6%

$1,188

2.1%

$1,431

2005 EFW Rating

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Countries That Regressed

Here we show the record of the Republic of Congo, Venezuela and Zimbabwe – the only three countries with a substantial reduction in economic freedom during the 1990s.

All three of these economies experienced low growth rates during 1995-2011 with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe exhibiting negative growth.

Beginning Year of Change

2005 EFW Rating

Congo, Rep.

1995

4.0

Venezuela

2000

4.9

Zimbabwe

1998

2.9

Average

Growth

1995-2011

Per Capita GDP, 2011

-0.5%

$329

0.6%

$11,258

-3.4%

$500

-1.1%

$4,029

Countries That Have Regressed Since 1990

Growth

1990-2011

-3.0%

0.8%

-2.7%

-1.6%

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The Declining Economic Freedom of the United States

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The Economic Freedom of the United States

While the EFW rating of the United States increased from 7.92 in 1980 to 8.62 in 2000, it has declined substantially during the past decade.

By 2010, the rating fell to 7.70, its lowest level in more than three decades.

U.S. Economic Freedom of the World (EFW)

Index Rating

9.0

8.5

8.0

7.5

7.0

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

2001

2010

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The U.S. was the world’s 3rd freest economy throughout 1980-2000 but its ranking fell to 8th in 2005 & 17th in 2011.

Between 2000 and 2010 the U.S. rating fell by almost a full point. While a one unit change may sound small, research indicates that it is associated with a 1% decline in the long-term, annual growth rate of real GDP.

The following elements contributed to the decline in the US EFW rating: higher levels of government spending, a reduction in the quality of the legal environment, higher non-tariff trade barriers, a smaller share of credit allocated to the private sector, and more restrictive regulation of business activity.

The Economic Freedom of the United States

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Rich and Poor Nations Revisited

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Countries with low per capital income in 1990 dominate the list of both (1) those that have grown most rapidly and (2) those that have regressed and experience falling incomes since 1990.

When low-income economies have sound institutions, they can grow rapidly because:

they can merely copy or emulate technologies and business practices that have been successful in high-income countries

the rate of return on investment in these low-income countries will generally be higher than in capital-rich, more advanced economies

Rich and Poor Nations Revisited

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In order for a low-income country to benefit from the borrowing of technologies and inflow of investment capital, it must have sound institutions.

Many low-income economies continue to perform poorly and even regress because their institutions and policies stifle gains from trade, entrepreneurship, and investment.

Rich and Poor Nations Revisited

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Economic Rules and Political Decision Making

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Politics and Sound Institutions

Economics provides direction with regard to institutions and policies that will lead to wealth creation, growth, and prosperity.

But, these institutions are an outgrowth of the political process and there is no assurance that political decision-making will lead to sound economic institutions.

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Politics and Sound Institutions

Democratic political decision-making will often lead to rules that encourage unproductive & counterproductive actions because of:

shortsightedness: bias toward adoption of unproductive programs providing immediate, highly visible benefits at the expense of difficult-to-identify future costs

special-interest politics: political incentives that lead politicians to “trade” favors to interest groups for political contributions to help them win the next election

rent-seeking and favoritism: activities that provide favors to some at the expense of others, that encourage people to divert resources away from productive activities and toward lobbying, campaign contributions, & other forms of political favor seeking

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Politics and Economics

Achievement and maintenance of political power often conflict with sound economics.

In recent decades, a wide variety of political processes have generated moves toward economic institutions more consistent with prosperity.

Economists do not fully understand the linkage between political decision-making and the adoption of economic reforms consistent with growth and prosperity.

This is a subject of current research that will enrich the future study of economics.

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Questions for Thought:

How do the income levels and growth rates of countries with institutions and policies more consistent with economic freedom compare with those that are less free? Is this surprising? Why or why not?

From the viewpoint of economic growth, why is the legal structure of a country important? What are some of the key attributes of a legal system that will encourage economic growth.

The fastest growing economies during the past quarter of a century were generally poor in 1990. Is this surprising? Why or why not?

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Questions for Thought:

4. (a) When property rights are well defined and enforced, what determines if an exchange will take place in a market economy? (b) When political decisions are made democratically, what determines whether a political action will be undertaken?

5. Is the difference in the structure of incentives accompanying markets and that of democratic political decision making important? Explain.

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Questions for Thought:

6. (a) Do we count on majority rule to protect civil liberties such as the right to free speech, freedom of the press, the right to assembly, and religious freedom? (b) Should we count on majority rule to defend economic rights like protection of one’s property, freedom to trade, and the freedom to compete? Discuss each of these questions.

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Questions for Thought:

7. Compared to countries with low levels of economic freedom, countries with a larger degree of economic freedom tend to have:

(a) higher per capita income levels, but slower rates of growth.

(b) lower per capita income levels, but more rapid rates of growth.

(d) both lower income levels and slower rates of growth.

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Addendum to Chapter 17: Economic Freedom

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Economic Freedom of the World: 2011

Intuitions and policies generally change slowly.

Thus, we have generally focused on the quality of institutions and policies over a lengthy time frame such as 1980-2010.

However, the recent data are also of interest.

The following map indicates the Economic Freedom of the World (EFW) ratings for 2011.

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End of

Chapter 17

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