Wirtschaftliche Entwicklung und Demokratie: ist Demokratie ein Wohlstandsmotor oder ein Wohlstandsprodukt?

Arbeitspapier

Economically highly developed countries are mostly democratic. But does this association constitute a causal relationship according to which democracy is a determinant of economic development? Or is it, conversely, economic development that paves the way for democratization? This paper gives an overview of the recent empirical literature that has dealt with this question. The empirical evidence raises doubts about the existence of any direct causation. However, there seem to be indirect causal mechanisms. Democracies seem to implement better conditions for the accumulation of human capital, in particular in terms of a rule of law. On the other hand do democracies not simply arise as consequence of economic development, but because of an adequate social environment with little inequality, that may be associated with economic well-being.

Object Details

• Language: Deutsch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: IZA Discussion Papers ; No. 2244

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Structure and Scope of Government: General ; Economic History: Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations: General, International, or Comparative ; Economic Development: General ; Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook: General
• Subject: democracy ; development ; Lipset hypothesis ; causal effect ; growth ; political institutions ; Wirtschaftswachstum ; Demokratie

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Sunde, Uwe
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA)
• (where): Bonn
• (when): 2006

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/34000
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:44 AM CET