Exam 8: Democracy or Dictatorship: Does It Make a Difference

Empirically, we do not see cases of contries that score high on the rule of law index but low on an index of electoral rights.

An overview of a variety of studies about the link between regime type and economic growth should lead one to the following conclusion:

Most economists and political scientists would be comfortable making the claim that having institutions protecting property rights is crucial for promoting economic growth. Where they might argue, however, is if and how property rights are related to regime type.

According to the empirical evidence from tests of the effects of regime type on government performance, does democracy seem to be a necessary or a sufficient condition for ensuring a high level of material well-being for a country's citizens?

Which policies are likely to be unpopular with the general public in the short term, those that promote immediate consumption (spending) or those that promote investment?

Does democracy make a material difference in people's lives? What evidence is there that democracy is associated with better well-being? Does democracy do better than all autocracies? Is it democracy per se, or particular aspects of polities that seem to be associated with better material outcomes?

Which policies would be better for economic growth, those that promote immediate consumption (spending) or those that promote investment?