Utilizing time series methods and data from five developed economies, we ex
amine the relationship between stock market development and economic growth
, controlling for the effects of the banking system and stock market volati
lity. Our results support the view that, although both banks and stock mark
ets may be able to promote economic growth, the effects of the former are m
ore powerful. They also suggest that the contribution of stock markets on e
conomic growth may have been exaggerated by studies that utilize cross-coun
try growth regressions.