Question 1

Most economists and political scientists would be comfortable making the claim that having institutions protecting property rights is crucial for promoting economic growth. Where they might argue, however, is if and how property rights are related to regime type.

Accepted Answer

While there may be differing opinions on the relationship between property rights and regime type, most economists and political scientists agree that protecting property rights is essential for promoting economic growth.

Question 2

Empirically, we do not see cases of contries that score high on the rule of law index but low on an index of electoral rights.

Accepted Answer

There are cases where countries may have strong legal systems and rule of law but have limited electoral rights, often due to authoritarian governance structures.

Question 3

Which policies would be better for economic growth, those that promote immediate consumption (spending) or those that promote investment?&#10;A) Policies that promote immediate consumption.&#10;B) Policies that promote investment.

Accepted Answer

Policies that promote investment are better for economic growth in the long run as they lead to increased productivity and innovation, which then leads to increased economic output and job creation. Policies that promote immediate consumption may provide short-term economic stimulus but do not have long-term benefits for economic growth.

Question 4

Which policies are likely to be unpopular with the general public in the short term, those that promote immediate consumption (spending) or those that promote investment?&#10;A) Policies that promote immediate consumption.&#10;B) Policies that promote investment.

Accepted Answer

Policies that promote investment are likely to be unpopular in the short term because they often require sacrifices such as higher taxes or reduced government spending on services, with benefits that are not immediately visible. Immediate consumption, on the other hand, provides instant gratification to the public.

Question 5

An overview of a variety of studies about the link between regime type and economic growth should lead one to the following conclusion:&#10;A) Democracy is better for growth than dictatorship.&#10;B) Dictatorship is better for growth than democracy.&#10;C) Regime type makes no difference.&#10;D) There are some empirical studies that support each of the conclusions listed in (a)-(c), above. In part, this variation in conclusions is likely to be the result of the different datasets used across the analyses.

Accepted Answer

Empirical studies on the link between regime type and economic growth have yielded varying results, with some studies supporting the idea that democracy is better for growth, some supporting dictatorship, and others finding no significant difference. The differences in conclusions can often be attributed to differences in the datasets used across studies. Therefore, the best choice is D, as it acknowledges the variety of conclusions and factors involved while also providing an explanation for the discrepancies.

Question 6

According to the empirical evidence from tests of the effects of regime type on government performance, does democracy seem to be a necessary or a sufficient condition for ensuring a high level of material well-being for a country's citizens?

A) Necessary
B) Sufficient

Accepted Answer

Democracy is not a necessary condition for ensuring a high level of material well-being, as there are examples of non-democratic countries achieving high levels of material well-being. However, it is also not sufficient on its own, as not all democracies guarantee high material well-being for their citizens. The question's phrasing implies a single choice, but the explanation clarifies the nuanced reality.

Question 7

Does democracy make a material difference in people's lives? What evidence is there that democracy is associated with better well-being? Does democracy do better than all autocracies? Is it democracy per se, or particular aspects of polities that seem to be associated with better material outcomes?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Does democracy make a material difference in...

Deck 8: Democracy or Dictatorship: Does It Make a Difference