Citation

Discussion Paper Details

Please find the details for DP1797 in an easy to copy and paste format below:

Full Details   |   Bibliographic Reference

Full Details

Title: Why did the West Extend the Franchise? Democracy, Inequality and Growth in Historical Perspective

Author(s): Daron Acemoglu and James A Robinson

Publication Date: March 1998

Keyword(s): Democracy, enfranchisement, Growth, Inequality, political commitment, Redistribution and Revolution

Programme Area(s): International Macroeconomics

Abstract: During the nineteenth century, most Western societies extended voting rights, a decision that led to unprecedented redistributive programs. We argue that these political reforms can be viewed as strategic decisions by political elites to prevent widespread social unrest and revolution. Political transition, rather than redistribution under existing political institutions, occurs because current transfers do not ensure future transfers, while the extension of the franchise changes future political equilibria and acts as a commitment to redistribution. Our theory also offers a novel explanation for the Kuznets curve in many Western economies during this period, with the fall in inequality following redistribution due to democratization.

For full details and related downloads, please visit: https://cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=1797

Bibliographic Reference

Acemoglu, D and Robinson, J. 1998. 'Why did the West Extend the Franchise? Democracy, Inequality and Growth in Historical Perspective'. London, Centre for Economic Policy Research. https://cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=1797