Finance, Growth, and Institutions in Latin America: What are the Links?

Using a panel of 16 countries during the 1961-2010 period, we find that financial development has a positive significant effect on economic growth in the long run for high-income countries but a negative significant effect for low-income countries. When studying the determinants of financial development, we find that higher financial openness and lower country risk are associated with greater financial development. The financial risk index has a positive significant effect on financial development, while the economic risk index has a negative significant effect. In addition, lower foreign debt and better socioeconomic conditions increase financial development.