Does democracy encourage free trade? It depends. Broadening the franchise involves transferring power from non-elected elites to the wider population, most of whom will be workers. The Hecksher-Ohlin-Stolper-Samuelson logic says that democratization should lead to more liberal trade policies in countries where workers stand to gain from free trade; and to more protectionist policies in countries where workers will benefit from the imposition of tariffs and quotas. We test and confirm these political economy implications of trade theory hypothesis using data on democracy, factor endowments, and protection in the late nineteenth century.
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Paper provided by C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers in its series CEPR Discussion Papers with number
5698.
Find related papers by JEL classification: F11 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Neoclassical Models of Trade F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations N70 - Economic History - - Economic History: Transport, International and Domestic Trade, Energy, and Other Services - - - General, International, or Comparative
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