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The state of democracy in Sub-Saharan Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Robert H. Bates

    (Department of Government, Harvard University, USA)

  • Ghada Fayad

    (OXCARRE, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, UK)

  • Anke Hoeffler

    (Centre for the Study of African Economies, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, UK)

Abstract

Africa experienced a wave of democratization over the past 20 years and this increase in democracy, we find, positively and significantly affects income per capita. Our dynamic panel data results suggest that countries only slowly converge to their long-run income values as predicted by current democracy levels, however. African countries may therefore be currently too democratic relative to their income levels. In keeping with this possibility, a significant number of countries are experiencing political ‘back sliding’: elections are won by the use of illicit tactics, term limits on political leaders have been overturned and there have been unconstitutional seizures of power.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert H. Bates & Ghada Fayad & Anke Hoeffler, 2012. "The state of democracy in Sub-Saharan Africa," International Area Studies Review, Center for International Area Studies, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, vol. 15(4), pages 323-338, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:intare:v:15:y:2012:i:4:p:323-338
    DOI: 10.1177/2233865912462373
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Cited by:

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    2. Daron Acemoglu & Suresh Naidu & Pascual Restrepo & James A. Robinson, 2019. "Democracy Does Cause Growth," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 127(1), pages 47-100.
    3. Duong, Huu Nhan & Goyal, Abhinav & Kallinterakis, Vasileios & Veeraraghavan, Madhu, 2022. "Democracy and the pricing of initial public offerings around the world," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(1), pages 322-341.
    4. Andrei S. Akhremenko & Alexander Petrov, 2014. "Efficiency, Policy Selection, And Growth In Democracy And Autocracy: A Formal Dynamical Model," HSE Working papers WP BRP 16/PS/2014, National Research University Higher School of Economics.
    5. Broich, T. & Szirmai, A., 2014. "China's economic embrace of Africa: An international comparative perspective," MERIT Working Papers 2014-049, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    6. Katarzyna Anna BARAN, 2020. "The Impact of Macroeconomic and Institutional Factors on Economic Growth in the CEE-4 Countries," Journal of Economics and Financial Analysis, Tripal Publishing House, vol. 4(2), pages 1-26.
    7. Roberto Ganau, 2017. "Institutions and economic growth in Africa: a spatial econometric approach," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 34(3), pages 425-444, December.
    8. Habibov, Nazim & Cheung, Alex & Auchynnikava, Alena, 2017. "Does social trust increase willingness to pay taxes to improve public healthcare? Cross-sectional cross-country instrumental variable analysis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 25-34.
    9. Jeffry A. Jacob & Thomas Osang, 2018. "Democracy And Growth: A Dynamic Panel Data Study," The Singapore Economic Review (SER), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 65(01), pages 41-80, August.
    10. Paul Pelzl & Steven Poelhekke, 2023. "Democratization, leader education and growth: firm-level evidence from Indonesia," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 28(4), pages 571-600, December.
    11. Anke Hoeffler & Sylvia Bishop, 2014. "Free and Fair Elections - A New Database," Economics Series Working Papers WPS/2014-14, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
    12. Zheng, Mingbo & Feng, Gen-Fu & Feng, Suling & Yuan, Xuemei, 2019. "The road to innovation vs. the role of globalization: A dynamic quantile investigation," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 65-83.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    income; democracy; Sub-Saharan Africa; Dynamic panel data;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O17 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements
    • O55 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Africa

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