The Quality of Democracy In Europe: Its Impact On Economic, Political and Social Performance

Kristobal Miguel Meléndez Aguilar

doi:10.5901/ajis.2015.v4n3s1p103

Abstract

The quality of democracy is a new concept that tries to explain the reason why democracies have different levels of performance. In 1959, by calculating average of some variables of welfare, Lipset showed that democracies have a better economic performance than another type of regime. By applying simple linear regressions and instrumental-variables regressions, it was found that the Rule of Law, accountability through voting and accountability through the institutions cause economic and social performance in Europe. Electoral participation and membership do not have a direct effect on the results that government offers, but make these procedural elements more effective. In the same way, more years of democracy do not guarantee a better performance but also have an indirect effect in the Rule of Law, accountability through voting and accountability through the institutions in Europe. Citizens' perceptions about the quality of democracy in Europe vary to a very slow pace unless there is a great change on the procedural elements. DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2015.v4n3s1p103

Highlights

Lipset argued in 1959 that democracy, compared to other types of regime, offers more wealth, industrialization, education and urbanization1
By applying simple linear regressions and instrumental-variables regressions, and analyzing the coefficients of standardized variables, it was found that procedural elements of a democracy produce a better economic and social performance in Europe
It would seem logical that the number of years of democracy and the different types of participation should have a great impact on economic and social performance in Europe

Summary

Introduction

Lipset argued in 1959 that democracy, compared to other types of regime, offers more wealth, industrialization, education and urbanization1 This author compared several variables of welfare and found that there is always a better economic performance in democratic countries versus those countries that are not. Lipset only compared the levels of welfare between two types of regime; but he does not carry out a causality analysis to determine if democracy generates or not a better economic performance. These comparative data seem to be an incentive for democratization. In order to test the hypothesis of Lipset that democracies have a better performance than those countries that are not democratic

Methodologhy

Causality Analysis

Findings

Conclusions