A vast literature uses cross-country regressions to search for empirical linkages between long-run growth rates and a variety of economic policy, political, and institutional indicators. This paper examines whether the conclusions from existing studies are robust or fragile to small changes in...

A vast amount of literature uses cross-country regressions to find empirical links between policy indicators and long-run average growth rates. The authors study whether the conclusions from existing studies are robust or fragile when small changes in the list of independent variables occur....

This paper reviews the conceptual, methodological, and statistical problems associated with drawing inferences from cross-country regressions. The authors elaborate on the particular problems associated with empirical attempts to link particular policies with long-run growth. They hope to...