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The Democracy–Economy-Nexus

  • Stefan Brieger and Gunther Markwardt EMAIL logo
Published/Copyright: October 16, 2020

Abstract

Despite a sizeable theoretical and empirical literature, no firm conclusions have been drawn regarding the democracy–economy-nexus. This paper aims to assess the twosided relationship between democracy and economic development based on the current state of research. Literature will be used to examine whether and how democracy affects economic development, as well as the reverse question. Does economic development influence the form of government of a society, i.e. can it promote or hinder a transition from autocracy to democracy? In addition to approaches that postulate a positive relationship, we will also present perspectives that either negatively interpret a correlation between the two variables or completely negate it.

JEL Classification: O1; O43; O17; P16

Corresponding author: Gunther Markwardt, Brandenburg University of Technology, Cottbus, Germany, E-mail:

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Published Online: 2020-10-16
Published in Print: 2020-11-26

© 2020 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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