This paper studies empirically the effects of and the interactions amongst economic and political liberalizations. Economic liberalizations are measured by a widely used indicator that captures the scope of the market in the economy, and in particular of policies towards freer international...

Social trust has been identified as a catalyst for reforms. We take the literature further in two ways. First, we make a fine-grained analysis of mechanisms through which social trust enables liberalizing reforms - by strengthening the ability to overcome obstacles in the political process...

Risikovermeidung scheint aktuell das Patentrezept für die Lösung all unserer Probleme zu sein. Zentralbanken ertränken die Gefahren unseres Wirtschafts- und Bankensystems mit Unmengen an Geld, und auch die Politik versucht, gesellschaftliche Missstände mit grosszügigen Geschenken unter den...