Inequality, Development, and the Stability of Democracy -Lipset and Three Critical Junctures in German History

Jung, Florian und Sunde, Uwe (2011): Inequality, Development, and the Stability of Democracy -Lipset and Three Critical Junctures in German History. Discussion Paper / Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR),

Abstract

This paper studies the endogenous emergence of political regimes in societies in which productive resources are distributed unequally and institutions do not ensure political commitments. The results imply that for any level of development there exists a distribution of resources such that democracy emerges in equilibrium, but there are distributions of resources for which democracy is infeasible in equilibrium irrespective of the level of development. The model also delivers results on the stability of democracy with regard to changes in the economic and demographic environment. The results are consistent with the different political regimes that emerged in Germany after 1871. ; Coalition Formation; Democracy; Development; Income inequality

• Dokumententyp: Paper
• Fakultät: Volkswirtschaft ; Volkswirtschaft > Lehrstühle > Seminar für Bevölkerungsökonomik
• Themengebiete: 300 Sozialwissenschaften > 330 Wirtschaft
• Sprache: Englisch