Revisiting linkages between financial development, trade openness and economic growth in South Africa: fresh evidence from combined cointegration test


Polat A., Shahbaz M., Rehman I. U., Satti S. L.

Quality and Quantity, vol.49, no.2, pp.785-803, 2015 (SCI-Expanded) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 49 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2015
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s11135-014-0023-x
  • Journal Name: Quality and Quantity
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.785-803
  • Keywords: Economic growth, Financial development, South Africa, Trade openness
  • Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University Affiliated: No

Abstract

© 2014, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.This study revisits the impact of financial development on economic growth in South Africa by incorporating trade openness in the production function. The paper covers the period of 1970–2011. We apply the Bayer–Hanck combined cointegration approach to examine the long run relationship between the variables. Our results indicate that financial development stimulates economic growth. Capital use adds in economic growth but trade openness impedes economic growth. The demand-side hypothesis is validated in South Africa. This paper suggests that government should redirect trade policies to reap optimal fruits of financial development for long run economic growth.