Finance and growth in a small open emerging market

This study contributes to the debate on financial development and economic growth in Malaysia using quarterly observations for a sample period from 1980 to 2002. It utilises a battery of financial indicators. Based on multivariate framework which takes real interest rate and capital stock into account, the findings are suggestive that finance does play a crucial role in promoting economic growth. Policymakers should, therefore, focus their attention on the creation and promotion of modern financial institutions including banks, non-banks, and stock markets in delivering both short- and long-run economic benefits.