The Impact of Financial Globalization On Economic Growth in The Kurdistan Region of Iraq: An Empirical Investigation
The Impact of Financial Globalization On Economic Growth in The Kurdistan Region of Iraq: An Empirical Investigation
The Impact of Financial Globalization On Economic Growth in The Kurdistan Region of Iraq: An Empirical Investigation
ABSTRACT
This article delves into the linkage between Economic Growth and Financial
Globalization within the Kurdistan context, utilizing yearly data spanning
from 2007 to 2020employing the Auto-Regressive-Distributed-Lag (ARDL)
method. Empirical investigation revealed that there is a positive and
significant linkage between Financial Globalization and economic growth
in the case of Kurdistan in the long run over the 2007-2020; specifically, a
1% upturn in Financial Globalization was linked to an approximate 0.014%
increase in GDP. Moreover, Oil Prices and Exchange Rate significantly
and positively impacted economic growth in Kurdistan, suggesting that
an increase in public revenue might result from an increase in oil price or
changing of the exchange rate. Overall, the result implies that financial
globalization, oil price, and exchange rate play significant roles in driving
economic growth in Kurdistan.
ARTICLE INFO
Article History:
Received: 01 October 2023
Accepted:30 October 2023
Available online: 01 December 2023
♣
Corresponding Author: Ahmed Abdulrahman Khder Aga; Ministry of Finance and the Economy,
KRG, Erbil, Iraq; Email: ahmedabdulrahman134@gmail.com; Tel: 009647501139613
MANAGEMENT AND ACCOUNTING REVIEW, VOLUME 22 NO 3, DECEMBER 2023
INTRODUCTION
The surge of financial globalization, notably from the mid-1980s, has seen
an upsurge in capital and human flows between developing and developed
countries. This rise is propelled by escalating cross-border trade in financial
assets facilitated by the removal of barriers and restrictions, effectively
amalgamating financial markets into a global entity (Das, 2010, p. 1).
Financial globalization pertains to linking a nation’s domestic financial
structure with worldwide financial markets and organizations. Generally,
achieving this integration requires governments to open up not only their
domestic financial sector but also their capital account, a transformation
often observed in countries with liberalized economies and increased cross-
border capital movements (Schmukler, 2008, p. 48).
Over the last thirty years, there has been consolidation across the
international financial system, so that it is dominated by a few banks,
whose headquarters are found in a few advanced countries. The growth of
these institutions has occurred concomitantly with increased pressure to
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Since the 1980s, in contrast to the earlier postwar era, there has been
a trend towards increasing global capital flows, driven by a combination
of increased pull factors such as higher expected returns and a greater
diversity of financial instruments, additionally, push factors encompass
elements like growth and low-interest rates within developed economies.
(Mahraddika, 2021, p. 4-5). Financial globalization, in the modern era, has
involved a series of booms and busts in terms of capital flows, with the 2009
financial crisis being a recent instance. A distinctive element of what became
known was the Global Financial Crisis was that it largely affected financial
markets of advanced economies. This has called into question laissez-faire
approaches, and the scope for international as well as domestic regulation in
finance. In this respect, some developing economies introduced what might
be considered an international equivalent of macroprudential policies, in the
form of prudential controls on capital inflows, both of which aim to dampen
the severity of swings in asset prices and credit (Jeanne, 2012, p. 50).
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and stable component compared to portfolio investments and debt flows. FDI has risen to prominence
and is now one of the dominant forms of foreign Inflows of capital due to its stability in the financial
landscape (World Development Indicators, 2019; Agoba et al, 2020, p. 1). Hence, FDI serves as the
principal constituent of financial globalization, and this study employed FDI as a proxy for assessing
financial globalization. THE IMPACT OF FINANCIAL GLOBALIZATION ON ECONOMIC GROWTH
FDI, net inflows (in billions of current US$) into low & middle-income economies
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
Figure 1: FDI, Net Inflows (in billions of current US$) into Low and Middle Income
Figure 1: FDI,Countries, World
net inflows (in Bank,
billions World
of current Development
US$) Indicators
into low and middle income 2022(WDI)
countries, World Bank,
World Development Indicators 2022(WDI).
Between
Between theand1990s
the 1990s and
2013, net 2013,
Inflows net Inflows
of capital ofand
(FDI) to low capital (FDI)economies
middle-income to low
and middle-income
expanded economies
significantly (see Figure 1). Overallexpanded significantly
capital influx into (see Figure
low and middle-income 1).
nations rose
Overall
over a longercapital influx
timeframe intobillion
from $20 lowinand 1990,middle-income nations
to $732 billion in 2011. rose overalsoa
Their composition
longer timeframe
altered, with the relativefrom $20
size of billion
official flowsindropping
1990, by to 50%
$732 andbillion
the maininsource
2011.forTheir
many
composition also altered, with the relative size of official flows
developing countries becoming private capital flows. This increase in net private capital dropping
flows was
by 50%
uneven, withand
some the main
low and source
middle for many
income countries developing
receiving countries
much more than becoming
others, while the portion
private capital flows. This increase in net private capital flows
of financial movements received by low and middle-income nations generally increased until was uneven,
the 2009
with some low and middle income countries receiving much more than
financial crisis. Following this, improvements in the investment climate contributed to a sharp increase
others, while the portion of financial movements received by low and
in flows in 2011.
middle-income nations generally increased until the 2009 financial crisis.
Following this, improvements
Financial Globalization: in the investment climate contributed to a
Risks and Benefits
sharp increase in flows in 2011.
Financial globalization refers to the ability to tap into substantial capital reserves, and when
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THE IMPACT OF FINANCIAL GLOBALIZATION ON ECONOMIC GROWTH
To understand this, it’s worth noting that there are three primary
advantages to having greater openness to cross border capital flows. Firstly, it
could result in decreased expenses related to capital movements, particularly
for small and medium-sized businesses. Secondly, it can provide greater
capacity for managing income risks, leading to reduced susceptibility of
household consumption to changes in output fluctuations. Thirdly, it can
encourage more disciplined macroeconomic policies (Wei, 2018, p. 11). So,
motivated by such incentives, countries across the world have generally
become more financially integrated (Schmukler, 2004, p. 24).
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which could outweigh the direct ones in certain cases, involve improved specialization in production
due to better risk management and the enhancement of institutions and more efficient macroeconomic
policies, which are spurred by pressure to compete and the so-called "discipline effect" of globalization;
(Prasad et al., 2003, p. 8). See Figure 2.
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Financial Globalization
LITERATURE REVIEW
Several economic theories hold that foreign capital flows enhance economic
growth by improving capital accumulation, management techniques and
productivity while also introducing new technologies to host countries
(Agbloyor et al., 2016, p. 2). Additionally, the unrestricted flow of
capital across international borders can be advantageous for all countries
since it promotes efficient allocation of resources, leading to improved
productivity and economic growth globally. However, in reality, as is widely
acknowledged, substantial inflows of capital can cause difficult issues for
policymakers. (Ahmed & Zlate, 2014, p. 1).
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THE IMPACT OF FINANCIAL GLOBALIZATION ON ECONOMIC GROWTH
policies, advocated for Iraq by the United States, was propelled by the
predominance of free-market models on a global scale and the necessity for
international investment. In seeking to enhance its security in a challenging
regional context, the KRG promoted trade and economic ties within its
influential neighboring countries. Consequently, Turkey emerged as KR-I’s
largest trading partner, with Iran closely following suit as the second largest
contributor to trade. Following the Iraq war in 2003, the region experienced
a decade marked by a semblance of peace and economic progress, which
came to an end with the rise of ISIS and the resulting conflict which affected
the Kurdistan region from August 2014 onwards (Anaid, 2019, p.11).
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METHODOLOGY
EXR: Exchange rate: this study measured the exchange rate as the
prevailing average Central Bank of Iraq exchange rate for the US dollar
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against the Dinar throughout the year. Previous studies that have employed
foreign exchange rates include: Precious et al. (2014); Sa’idu et al. (2014);
Udeh et al. (2014); Obidike et al. (2015); Idode and Sanusi (2019); Osu
(2020).
Oil Price: Oil price is a monetary value that is expressed per barrel
of crude oil in US dollars. It is stated in cash due to it being related to the
US dollar and can be shown to oil price in the crude oil market in different
notions such as the price declared, the price achieved, the price of signal,
and the tax rate (AKTUĞ, et al., 2019, p. 277).
Sources of Data
Descriptive Statistics
Descriptive statistics are used for checking the average and standard
deviation of variables. These show the average value of variables within
different time periods and how much they deviate from average values. The
standard deviation, with minimum values, shows the stability of variables.
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ARDL-bounds Test
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foreign investment, and fosters fiscal stability. Additionally, rising oil prices
bolstered consumer confidence and contributed to the region’s economic
growth by enhancing overall economic stability and attracting further
investment. While a 1% rise in ER increased GDP by approximately 2.55%.
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Stability Test
The parameters in both models were stable because they are within
the critical region and do not exceed it, and this was clear evidence that the
two selected models were considered good models.
-2
-4
-6
2016 2017
CUSUM 5% Significance
1.6
1.4
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
2016 2017
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CONCLUSION
The primary aim of this study was to empirically explore the influence of
financial globalization on economic growth in Kurdistan. A comprehensive
literature review, including the theories of Shaw (1973) and MacKinnon
(1973) regarding financial liberalization, was conducted. The research
utilized the ARDL Model for analysis. The research findings suggested
that, on the whole, Kurdistan has experienced positive benefits from
the liberalization policy. The results indicated a substantial and positive
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