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Revisiting the Modernization Hypothesis: Longevity and Democracy

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  • Jacobsen, Joannes

Abstract

Modernization theory claims that changes in economic fundamentals, like e.g., income per capita and education levels, affect the political structure of a country in a causal way. As an important marker of development, life expectancy can also be conjectured to have a direct effect on political structures. In this paper, we estimate the impact of improvements in life expectancy on democracy. For the purpose of identification we use data from the international epidemiological transition to construct an instrument for life expectancy. We find a statistically and economically significant positive causal effect of improvements in life expectancy on democracy.

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  • Jacobsen, Joannes, 2015. "Revisiting the Modernization Hypothesis: Longevity and Democracy," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 174-185.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:67:y:2015:i:c:p:174-185
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2014.10.003
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    Cited by:

    1. Giorgio LIOTTI & Marco MUSELLA & Federica D’ISANTO, 2018. "Does democracy improve human development? Evidence from former socialist countries," Eastern Journal of European Studies, Centre for European Studies, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, vol. 9, pages 69-88, December.
    2. Sajad Rahimian, 2021. "The Determinants of Democracy Revisited: An Instrumental Variable Bayesian Model Averaging Approach," Papers 2103.04255, arXiv.org.
    3. Yunlong Niu & Mastura Adam & Hazreena Hussein, 2022. "Connecting Urban Green Spaces with Children: A Scientometric Analysis Using CiteSpace," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-23, August.

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