Impact of Economic Freedom on Corruption Revisited in ASEAN Countries: A Bayesian Hierarchical Mixed-Effects Analysis

Conceptual and applied studies assessing the linkage between economic freedom corruption expect that boosts growth, improves income, reduces levels of corruption. However, most them have concentrated on developed developing groups, while Association Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries drawn much less attention. Empirical findings are often conflicting. Moreover, previous performed rather simple frequentist techniques regressing one or some indices do not allow for grasping all aspects as well capturing variations across countries. The study aims to investigate effects ten components index level in ASEAN from 1999 2018. By applying a Bayesian hierarchical mixed-effects regression via Monte Carlo technique combined with Gibbs sampler, obtained results suggest several follows: (i) In view probability, predictors property rights, government integrity, tax burden, business freedom, labor investment strongly positive impact response perceived index; (ii) Government spending, trade financial exert negative effect, influence monetary is ambiguous; (iii) There an existence only random intercepts but also coefficients at country impacting model outcome. empirical outcome could be major importance more efficient controlling emerging countries, including nations.