Causal inference of financial development and institutional quality across the globe

Abstract

The world has experienced increased integration of economic activities in the last decades, thus necessitating the unending examination of the responsible factors. In this case, the causal connection between institutional quality and financial development in 102 countries during the period 1990–2016 is examined. Beyond examining this relationship for the entire countries, the countries are further divided into four different income groups (low-income, lower-middle income, upper-middle income, and high-income countries). By employing empirical method that accounts for country-specific factors in the panel, the result of the study demonstrates bidirectional causality between institutional quality and financial development in the whole panel. In terms of country-income groups, the evidence of the study designates that there is two-way causality between institutional quality and financial development in upper-middle income and high-income countries. Moreover, no causality relationship is found in low-income and lower-middle income countries. These results provide policy guide on the effective way of promoting foreign direct investment across the globe.