Do external imbalances increase the risk of financial crises? In this paper, we study the experience of 14 developed countries over 140 years (1870-2008). We exploit our long-run dataset in a number of different ways. First, we apply new statistical tools to describe the temporal and spatial...

Legal provisions that interfere with the arrest and prosecution of politicians exist throughout much of the modern democratic world. Why and with what effects do societies choose to place their politicians above the law? We examine the institution of immunity both theoretically and empirically....

Two separate narratives have emerged in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis. One interpretation speaks of private financial excess and the key role of the banking system in leveraging and deleveraging the economy. The other emphasizes the public sector balance sheet over the private and...

Ursula Münch, Politische Akademie Tutzing, erklärt, dass Populisten und Extremisten für den eigenen Erfolg die Skepsis der Wählerschaft gegenüber dem parlamentarischen System und das Misstrauen gegenüber den seriösen Parteien für ihren eigenen Erfolg benötigen. Um dem Glaubwürdigkeits-...

Amid escalating geopolitical tensions, we offers insights into the far-reaching consequences of wars. Based on a new dataset on major conflicts since 1870, the findings show that wars cause a substantial decline in GDP and spike in inflation within war zones. Interestingly, countries...

Populism at the government level is on the rise and we are living in a populist era. Populist leaders cling to power and populism often returns to countries. Populist governments are a drag on economic growth. Economic nationalism and protectionism are a common feature of populists in power....