Constitutional Economics
A Primer

A concise survey of the questions, methods, and empirical findings central to the field of constitutional political economy.

Stefan Voigt (Author)

9781108708395, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 18 June 2020

150 pages, 2 b/w illus. 2 tables
22.8 x 15.3 x 0.9 cm, 0.23 kg

'Comprehensiveness combined with successful brevity makes the book a valuable reference volume. An important contribution of the book is to point out studies that qualify or contradict results of past studies that have been given prominence and may have come to be regarded as having provided definitive answers to important questions. The book is suitable for researchers who want a succinct introductory overview as well as for researchers in the field who want to ensure that they have not missed essential questions and contributions.' Arye L. Hillman, Public Choice

Constitutional political economy has emerged as an indispensable part of political economy. This book offers a concise survey of the questions, methods, and empirical findings central to this topic. What effects – if any – do constitutions have within autocracies? Can small electoral districts help reduce corruption? Does a country's leadership affect the size of its government? Can direct democratic institutions increase politicians' accountability to citizens? Stefan Voigt, a pioneer in the field, explores these questions and more throughout the course of this cutting-edge primer. As the number of courses in constitutional economics continues to grow, this book fills an important gap in the literature. This highly original project maintains curiosity about the questions it generates, identifying potential new areas of research whilst successfully demonstrating the impact constitutional rules have on political economy.

Introduction
1. Conceptual Foundations
2. Democracy vs. Autocracy
3. Positive Constitutional Economics
4. Conclusions – and Possible Future Issues
Appendix 1. Coding Countries According to Two Governance Scores
Appendix 2. Empirical Results at a Glance: Constitutional Rules as Explanatory Variables, Cross-Country Results Unless Otherwise Noted

Subject Areas: Constitutional & administrative law [LND], Political economy [KCP], Development economics & emerging economies [KCM], Microeconomics [KCC], Economics [KC]