Based on La Porta et al. (2004), ExtCap, (External Cap/GDP) ratio is the ratio of
the stock market capitalization held by minorities to gross domestic product for the
period of 1996 to 2000. The stock market capitalization held by minorities is
computed as the product of the aggregate stock market capitalization and the average
percentage of common shares not owned by the top three shareholders in the 10
largest nonfinancial, privately owned domestic firms in a given country. This study
uses this ratio to measure the importance of the equity market in each country, with
higher values indicating a greater importance of the stock market and better investor-
protection.