Abstract/Summary

We explore the relationship between institutional quality and economic growth across a panel of Italian NUTS-3 regions. Estimates from panel vector autoregressions provide robust evidence in support of a causal effect of institutional quality on growth. This is found to be particularly important in areas characterised by lower levels of economic development. Conversely, no evidence is found of reverse dynamics of economic growth on institutional quality. The results cast doubts on the view that policies focusing on economic growth per se may lead to a strong institutional context, suggesting intervention aimed at improving formal institutions to be a pre-requisite for sustained regional development.