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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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    3. García, Carlos J. & González, Wildo D. & Rivera, Tiare, 2024. "Robots at work in emerging developing countries: How bad could it be?," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    4. Puspa D. Amri & Eric M. P. Chiu & Jacob M. Meyer & Greg M. Richey & Thomas D. Willett, 2022. "Correlates of Crisis Induced Credit Market Discipline: The Roles of Democracy, Veto Players, and Government Turnover," Open Economies Review, Springer, vol. 33(1), pages 61-87, February.
    5. An, Zidong, 2023. "Financial reforms and capital accumulation in developing economies: New data and evidence," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    6. Blagrave, Patrick & Furceri, Davide, 2021. "The macroeconomic effects of electricity-sector privatization," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    7. Jakob de Haan & Rasmus Wiese, 2022. "The impact of product and labour market reform on growth: Evidence for OECD countries based on local projections," Journal of Applied Econometrics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 37(4), pages 746-770, June.
    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. Sinem Kilic Celik & M. Ayhan Kose & Franziska Ohnsorge, 2023. "Potential Growth Prospects: Risks, Rewards and Policies," CAMA Working Papers 2023-19, Centre for Applied Macroeconomic Analysis, Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University.
    10. Cunial, Santiago, 2024. "Policy legacies and energy transitions: Greening policies under sectoral reforms in Argentina and Chile," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    11. Davide Furceri & Mr. Jonathan David Ostry, 2021. "Initial Output Losses from the Covid-19 Pandemic: Robust Determinants," IMF Working Papers 2021/018, International Monetary Fund.
    12. Nan Li & Chris Papageorgiou & Tong Xu & Tao Zha, 2021. "The S-curve: Understanding the Dynamics of Worldwide Financial Liberalization," NBER Working Papers 28994, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    13. Niklas Potrafke & Felix Roesel, 2022. "Online Versus Offline: Which Networks Spur Protests?," CESifo Working Paper Series 9969, CESifo.
    14. Jean‐Marc B. Atsebi, 2024. "Igniting growth surges: Lessons from the past," Economics of Transition and Institutional Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(2), pages 525-569, April.
    15. 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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