This article distinguishes openness from domestic performance as different growth determinants and uses nonparametric estimation to reveal their direct effects on GDP. On average, openness promotes growth, but its effect on growth is negative when the levels of openness and domestic performance...

This article uses a nonparametric varying coefficient panel data model to study the convergence of real GDP per capita among 120 world economies for the sample period of 1980-2010. The estimates show that the indirect contribution of initial income via the control variables is important. The...