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Structural Reforms and Elections: Evidence from a World-Wide New Dataset

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  • Alberto Alesina
  • Davide Furceri
  • Jonathan D Ostry
  • Chris Papageorgiou
  • Dennis P Quinn

Abstract

We present two new databases we have constructed to explore the electoral consequences of structural economic policy reforms. One database measures reforms in domestic finance, external finance, trade, product, and labor markets covering 90 advanced and developing economies from 1973 to 2014. The other chronicles the timing and results of national elections. We find that liberalizing reforms are associated with economic benefits that accrue only gradually over time. Because of this delay, liberalizing reforms are costly to democratic incumbents when they are implemented close to elections. Electoral outcomes also depend on the state of the economy: Reforms are penalized during contractions but are often rewarded in expansions.

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  • Alberto Alesina & Davide Furceri & Jonathan D Ostry & Chris Papageorgiou & Dennis P Quinn, 2024. "Structural Reforms and Elections: Evidence from a World-Wide New Dataset," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 22(4), pages 1936-1980.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:jeurec:v:22:y:2024:i:4:p:1936-1980.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/jeea/jvad075
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    8. Jing Li & Zidong An & Yan Wang, 2023. "On the Substitution and Complementarity between Robots and Labor: Evidence from Advanced and Emerging Economies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-18, June.
    9. Apeti, Ablam Estel & Bambe, Bao-We-Wal & Combes, Jean-Louis & Edoh, Eyah Denise, 2024. "Original sin: Fiscal rules and government debt in foreign currency in developing countries," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
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    17. Ablam Estel Apeti & Kwamivi Gomado, 2023. "IMF conditionality and structural reforms: Evidence from developing countries," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2023-97, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • J65 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment Insurance; Severance Pay; Plant Closings
    • L43 - Industrial Organization - - Antitrust Issues and Policies - - - Legal Monopolies and Regulation or Deregulation
    • L51 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Economics of Regulation
    • O43 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Institutions and Growth
    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence
    • P16 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Capitalist Institutions; Welfare State

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