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An empiric on geopolitical risk and the tourism-economic growth nexus

An empiric on geopolitical risk and the tourism-economic growth nexus
An empiric on geopolitical risk and the tourism-economic growth nexus

Purpose: This study empirically examines the moderating role of geopolitical risk on the tourism–economic growth nexus by applying a recent geopolitical risk indicator developed by Caldara and Iacoviello (2022) in a cross-country panel data growth model context for a sample of 24 countries. Design/methodology/approach: A Dummy Variable Least Squares panel data model, nonparametric covariance matrix estimator and SYS-GMM estimation techniques are employed for the analysis. The authors capture the GPR moderating effect by disaggregating the cross-country sample according to low versus high country GPR score and through a GPR interaction coefficient. Several controls are included in the models such as gross fixed capital formation and—consistent with Barro (1990)—government consumption. Trade openness is used to account for the export-led growth effect. In line with neoclassical growth theory (e.g. Barro, 1991), the authors also include the real interest rate, to account for policy makers' commitment to macroeconomic stability, financial depth, as a proxy for financial development, population growth and the level of secondary school education. The authors also control for unobserved country-specific and time-invariant effects. Findings: The research finds that the interaction term of geopolitical risk significantly contributes to the predictive ability of the regression and provides empirical evidence that confirms that only in low geopolitical risk countries international tourism positively and significantly contributes to economic growth. Important theoretical and policy implications flow from these findings. Originality/value: The study not only contributes to advancing academic knowledge on the tourism–growth nexus, it also has impact beyond academia. Many countries have in the past pursued and many continue to pursue, tourism specialization and/or tourism-led growth strategies based on the theoretically well-established and empirically validated positive link between inbound tourism and economic growth. The findings alert policy makers in such countries to the significant moderating role that geopolitical risk plays in affecting the above-mentioned relationship and to the importance of prioritizing geopolitical stability as a policy precursor for the successful implementation of such strategies.

Economic growth, Geopolitical risk, International tourism, Panel data
0144-3585
Kyaw, Sandy
5000ef5d-df55-48d1-9d92-992d71e3c092
Luo, Yun
2ac0f228-573d-43e7-b309-1529b6f3d174
De Vita, Glauco
002fc6bf-e5ed-4a13-8993-0ce5e1fc2005
Kyaw, Sandy
5000ef5d-df55-48d1-9d92-992d71e3c092
Luo, Yun
2ac0f228-573d-43e7-b309-1529b6f3d174
De Vita, Glauco
002fc6bf-e5ed-4a13-8993-0ce5e1fc2005

Kyaw, Sandy, Luo, Yun and De Vita, Glauco (2023) An empiric on geopolitical risk and the tourism-economic growth nexus. Journal of Economic Studies. (doi:10.1108/JES-08-2023-0459). (In Press)

Record type: Article

Abstract

Purpose: This study empirically examines the moderating role of geopolitical risk on the tourism–economic growth nexus by applying a recent geopolitical risk indicator developed by Caldara and Iacoviello (2022) in a cross-country panel data growth model context for a sample of 24 countries. Design/methodology/approach: A Dummy Variable Least Squares panel data model, nonparametric covariance matrix estimator and SYS-GMM estimation techniques are employed for the analysis. The authors capture the GPR moderating effect by disaggregating the cross-country sample according to low versus high country GPR score and through a GPR interaction coefficient. Several controls are included in the models such as gross fixed capital formation and—consistent with Barro (1990)—government consumption. Trade openness is used to account for the export-led growth effect. In line with neoclassical growth theory (e.g. Barro, 1991), the authors also include the real interest rate, to account for policy makers' commitment to macroeconomic stability, financial depth, as a proxy for financial development, population growth and the level of secondary school education. The authors also control for unobserved country-specific and time-invariant effects. Findings: The research finds that the interaction term of geopolitical risk significantly contributes to the predictive ability of the regression and provides empirical evidence that confirms that only in low geopolitical risk countries international tourism positively and significantly contributes to economic growth. Important theoretical and policy implications flow from these findings. Originality/value: The study not only contributes to advancing academic knowledge on the tourism–growth nexus, it also has impact beyond academia. Many countries have in the past pursued and many continue to pursue, tourism specialization and/or tourism-led growth strategies based on the theoretically well-established and empirically validated positive link between inbound tourism and economic growth. The findings alert policy makers in such countries to the significant moderating role that geopolitical risk plays in affecting the above-mentioned relationship and to the importance of prioritizing geopolitical stability as a policy precursor for the successful implementation of such strategies.

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PURE version JES paper accepted 11 December 2023 - Accepted Manuscript
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Accepted/In Press date: 11 December 2023
Additional Information: Publisher Copyright: © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited.
Keywords: Economic growth, Geopolitical risk, International tourism, Panel data

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 485633
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/485633
ISSN: 0144-3585
PURE UUID: f5a0cc65-15a3-4c14-b63f-4c5f6e558ab8
ORCID for Yun Luo: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-8409-366X

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 12 Dec 2023 17:38
Last modified: 18 Mar 2024 03:56

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Contributors

Author: Sandy Kyaw
Author: Yun Luo ORCID iD
Author: Glauco De Vita

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