Relationship Between Threshold Level of Inflation and Economic Growth in Bangladesh: A Multivariate Quadratic Regression Analysis

The main objective of this study is to empirically examine the relationship between inflation and economic growth in Bangladesh and to investigate the ongoing possible threshold effect. This study draws on diverse tables and charts, correlation matrices, pair-wise Granger Causality tests, ADRL (General to Specific Approach) test, and a quadratic regression equation estimated by OLS using time series annual data covering the sample period from 1980 to 2017. The results demonstrate that the relationship between inflation and GDP growth is non-linear with a subsistence of a breakpoint, which means the inverted U-shape curve. Moreover, the Granger Causality shows that economic growth does granger cause inflation. The empirical result indicates that when the inflation level reaches the threshold level at 7.84 percent then the economic growth is in peak position. This study proposed that the Bangladesh Bank should maintain the precautious and growth-friendly monetary policy structure by keeping inflation targeting below 7.84 percent, or else the growth might be held back.