درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

Social capital is one of the most important subjects in development economics. It has a crucial role in development process in developing countries. To the best of our knowledge, there is no study about the importance of government size in social capital. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is considering the relationship between government size and social capital in 109 developing countries during the period of 2008-2014. To do so, we have used a panel data method based on the model of Knack and Keefer (1997). Estimated Results of a fixed effect panel model indicate that there is a non-linear relationship between government size and social capital. When the government size is small (the government size is less than 26.17%), increasing government size has a significant positive impact on social capital. However, when the government size is large (the government size is larger than 26.17%), government size has a significant negative impact on social capital. Before this threshold level of government size, due to preparing safe environment as well as social and economic institutions, ensuring property rights, providing public services as well as social security, building schools and universities, etc., expanding government leads to promoting social capital. But after this threshold level, because of inefficient expenditure, corruption and crowding out private investments in social capital, expanding government has a negative impact on social capital.  

This paper examines the non-linear relationship between CO2 emissions and economic development using an innovative dynamic panel threshold technique. The sample consists of 35 developed countries over the period 2003-2010. The empirical results indicate that there is a threshold effect in the relationship between economic growth and pollutant emissions as suggested by the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC). In particular, at the early stage of economic development below the estimated threshold value, more growth deteriorates the environmental problems. However, after this threshold value further growth serves as a solution to the environmental problems. Accordingly, promoting economic growth and becoming rich in the long run, is necessary to solve the environmental problems arising from greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In the short run and in the early stage of economic growth, focus on investments in environmentally friendly technology and on the use of renewable energy is necessary for mitigating the pollution effects of economic progress.