Growth and Finance: What Do We Know and How Do We Know It?

The role of financial sector development in economic growth has become a major topic of empirical research in just the last ten years. A standard approach to explaining growth has emerged and the literature has examined the role of the aggregate amount of financial intermediation, bank lending and the influence of equity market development. More recently, the literature has examined aspects of institutional development and infrastructure on growth. Despite the econometric difficulties encountered, there is an emerging consensus about the role of the financial sector in growth. Panel data sets have produced impressive results but they are often fragile. Estimates with recently developed dynamic panel techniques have provided additional evidence. This paper summarizes the consensus and discusses the techniques that have been used and the problems encountered.