Growth-friendly dictatorships

Giacomo De Luca, Anastasia Litina, Petros Sekeris

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    Abstract

    This research argues that in highly unequal societies, a rent-seeking and self-maximizing dictator may be supported by a fraction of the population, despite the absence of special benefits to these societal groups. Importantly, it is the stakes of the dictator in the economy, in the form of capital ownership, that drive the support of individuals. In highly unequal societies ruled by a capital-rich dictator endowed with the power to tax and appropriate at will, the elites will support dictatorial policies given that they can generate higher growth rates than the ones obtained under democracy. This support arises unconditionally to special benefits to the elites and despite the total absence of checks and balances on the dictator.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)98-111
    JournalJournal of Comparative Economics
    Volume43
    Issue number1
    Early online date25 Sept 2013
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Feb 2015

    Keywords

    • Regime type
    • Capital distribution
    • Growth

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