There has been much study of the consequences of economic freedom but, outside of the role of political institutions …, there has been little study of the determinants of economic freedom. We investigate whether religion affects economic … freedom. Our cross-sectional dataset includes 137 countries averaged over the period 2001-2010. Simple correlations show that …

In this contribution we study the relationship between income inequality and economic freedom for a panel of 100 … economic freedom, while causation does not run in the opposite direction. We argue that the negative effect of inequality on … resources. The elite uses this power to curtail economic freedom to defend its economic interests by discouraging innovation …

Using the KOF Index of Globalization and two indices of economic freedom, we empirically analyze whether globalization … economic freedom, while empowerment rights are not robustly affected. Due to the lack of consensus about the appropriate level …

We study the relationship between participation in free trade agreements (FTAs) and the sustainability of democracy …

We present a novel approach for measuring democracy based on Support Vector Machines, a mathematical algorithm for … pattern recognition. The Support Vector Machines Democracy Index (SVMDI) is continuously on the 0-1-interval and enables a … very detailed measurement of democracy for 188 countries between 1981 and 2011. Application of the SVMDI highlights a …

Democracy usually is identified by the right to vote. However, in recent times voting procedures have been criticized … process. We suggest invigorating an old but nearly forgotten procedure to overcome this deficit: Aleatoric Democracy based on … considered. Persons and ideas, being so far disregarded, are taken into account. Democracy becomes vivid and creative, and does …

This paper shows how a world price shock can increase the likelihood that democratization must be used to resolve the … threat of revolution. Initially, a ruling elite may be able to use trade policy to maintain political stability. But a world … resolve. Because the world price shock may also reduce average incomes, the model provides a way to understand why the level …

This paper empirically analyzes the joint impact of democracy and press freedom on corruption. Based in the theoretical … is a certain degree of press freedom in a country, vice versa. Our policy implication is that democratic reforms are more …