“…The positive association between economic freedom and economic growth is well‐documented (Ayal & Karras, 1998; Heckelman & Stroup, 2000; Compton et al, 2011; Doucouliagos & Ulubasoglu, 2006; Gwartney et al, 1999; Hall & Lawson, 2014; Rode & Coll, 2012; Williamson & Mathers, 2011; Xu & Li, 2008), as is the relation between economic freedom and overall productivity (Klein & Luu, 2003; Zhang et al, 2018). Approaches based on Granger causality and using instruments for economic freedom have also suggested that the association at least partly reflects a causal effect of economic freedom on growth (Dawson, 2003; Heckelman, 2000; Justesen, 2008; however, see also Sturm et al, 2002).…”