par Fidrmuc, Jan
Référence European journal of political economy, 19, 3, page (583-604)
Publication Publié, 2003-09
Article révisé par les pairs
Résumé : The post-communist transition was associated with two specific phenomena. First, political liberalization was initiated simultaneously with economic reforms. Second, instead of a short J-shaped adjustment, most transition countries experienced deep and protracted recessions. Some analysts suggest that the early introduction of democracy was in fact harmful for economic growth. Similarly, proponents of reemerging authoritarian regimes claim that a strong hand is needed to restore order and reinvigorate the economy. This paper considers the stipulated trade-off between democracy and growth. The results suggest that democracy reinforces progress in economic liberalization, which, in turn, improves growth. Hence, democratization had a positive effect on growth during transition, albeit indirectly, through facilitating economic liberalization. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.