Macroeconomic determinants of growth: Cross-country evidence

Using post-war data from forty-seven countries, we examine the cross-sectional relation between the mean growth rate of real product (growth) and variables suggested by the theoretical literature. Barro's hypothesis that the variability of monetary shocks adversely affects growth receives strong support, as do several other hypotheses. We also show that our variables influence growth by affecting both the fraction of product devoted to investment and the return to capital. Finally, while an index of civil liberty explains growth only marginally, it dominates the other variables in explaining investment.