Democracy and Development
Political Institutions and Well-Being in the World, 1950–1990

Examines impact of political regimes on economic development between 1950 and 1990.

Adam Przeworski (Author), Michael E. Alvarez (Author), Jose Antonio Cheibub (Author), Fernando Limongi (Author)

9780521790321, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 28 August 2000

340 pages, 10 b/w illus. 73 tables
23.8 x 15.9 x 2.7 cm, 0.577 kg

'There is a lot to be learned from this excellent piece of research …'. Western European Politics

Is economic development conducive to political democracy? Does democracy foster or hinder material welfare? These two questions are examined by looking at the experience of 135 countries between 1950 and 1990. Descriptive information, statistical analyses, and historical narratives are interwoven to gain an understanding of the dynamic of political regimes and their impact on economic development and other aspects of material welfare. The findings, several most surprising, dispel any notion of a trade-off between democracy and development. Economic development does not generate democracies but democracies are much more likely to survive in wealthy societies. Political regimes have no impact on the growth of total national incomes, while political instability affects growth only in dictatorships. Per capita incomes grow faster in democracies since population increases faster under dictatorships. In general, political regimes have more of an effect on demography than on economics.

Introduction
1. Democracies and dictatorships
2. Dynamic of political regimes
3. Political regimes and economic growth
4. Political instability and economic growth
5. Political regimes and population
Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Political economy [KCP], Development economics & emerging economies [KCM], Political structures: democracy [JPHV], Politics & government [JP]