HIGH-TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS EXPORT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH: A PANEL DATA ANALYSIS FOR EU-15 COUNTRIES

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between high-tech product exports and economic growth in EU-15 countries between 1998-2017. The dataset composed of gross domestic product (GDP), high-technology exports (HT), labor force (LF), and gross fixed capital formation (PC). Dumitrescu & Hurlin Causality, Westerlund Cointegration and MG Estimator employed for the analyses. The short-term outcomes revealed a bidirectional causality between (a) HT and GDP, (b) LF and GDP, (c) PC and GDP, (d) LF and HT, (e) LF and PC, and (f) a unidirectional causality from HT to PC. Moreover, (i) a 1% raise in HT cause to 0.49 % increase in GDP, (ii) a 1% raise in LF cause to 0.22 % increase in GDP, (iii) a 1% raise in PC cause to 0.48 % increase in GDP. The long-term outcomes show that (i) a 1% raise in HT cause to a 0.34 % increase in GDP, (ii)a 1% raise in LF cause to a 7.4 % increase in GDP, (iii) a 1% raise in PC cause to a 0.33% increase in GDP. High-tech product exportation has a significant impact not only on economic growth, but also on gross fix capital formation and employment.