Abstract
This study discusses the current state of knowledge on the financial development and economic growth by reviewing the most decisive theoretical and empirical contributions. It is obvious that financial development is at least correlated with economic development and that a sound and refined financial system encourages the efficiency of investment and economic growth in a market economy. It is also observable that an inadequately functioning financial system can obstruct economic growth and development. The review highlights that most empirical studies focus on either testing the role of financial development in motivating economic growth or tentative direction of causality between these two variables. We review the cross-country and time series empirical literature in this study. It is evident that searching the relationship between financial development and economic growth is inconclusive across countries, regions, and methodologies employed.