Role of economic and political freedom in the emergence of global middle class
The study examines the role of the economic freedoms such as regulatory efficiency, open markets and limited markets, political freedom and rule of law in the growth of the global middle class through international business activity in 34 emerging markets during the period of 1994–2011. The analysis suggests that some dimensions of freedom are more critical than others in making these markets attractive locations for international business and this in turn leads to domestic growth and thus growth of the middle class in these countries. The results also reveal the existence of a feedback loop, whereby the growing middle class becomes a driving force for further expansion of international business activity and economic growth.
By using a Kaleckian model with firms’ debt accumulation, we investigate how in- creased shareholder power defined by a decrease in firms’ retention ratio and a mone- tary policy defined by interest controlled by a central bank a?ect macroeconomic vari- ables. The long-run equilibrium can be stable even if the short-run equilibrium exhibits debt-burdened growth. In addition, the long-run equilibrium can be unstable even if the short run equilibrium exhibits debt-led growth. Increased shareholder power can increase both rentiers and workers’ income shares. A monetary easing policy has an expansionary e?ect on the economy. However, it decreases both workers and rentiers’ income shares and thus has a negative e?ect on income distribution.