Are there economic returns from democracy? : the experience of Sub-Saharan Africa from 1988-2007

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dc.contributor.advisorMattes, Roberten_ZA
dc.contributor.authorAndersen, Ryanen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2015-02-17T12:56:59Z
dc.date.available2015-02-17T12:56:59Z
dc.date.issued2011en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThere is an enduring debate as to whether democracy promotes or hinders economic growth. This study examines the relationship between democracy and economic growth in 47 sub-Saharan African countries from 1988 to 2007. From the late 1980s until the mid-1990s, a period of democratization swept the continent. This period of democratization was followed by a period of strong economic growth from the mid- 1990s through 2007. It is argued here that these events are not coincidental and that democracy is advantageous to economic growth, particularly in the sub-Saharan Africa region. Using statistical analyses such as bivariate correlation and multiple regression, the relationship between democracy and economic growth is examined using a number of control variables to test the strength of the relationship between democracy and growth. To date, the empirical research on democracy and economic growth provides conflicting results, ranging from positive to negative to neutral effects. The results of this study show that there is a correlation between higher levels of democracy and higher levels of economic growth during certain periods. However, this relationship weakens to levels that are not significant once certain combinations of control variables are included. While the results of the study do not provide a definitive answer to the debate, they do refute certain arguments that have been made about the main drivers of economic growth in the region. The results also show that democracy does not have a negative effect on growth, which highly suggests that there might be a sequence effect involved in the path towards democratization and economic growth.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationAndersen, R. (2011). <i>Are there economic returns from democracy? : the experience of Sub-Saharan Africa from 1988-2007</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Political Studies. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12503en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationAndersen, Ryan. <i>"Are there economic returns from democracy? : the experience of Sub-Saharan Africa from 1988-2007."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Political Studies, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12503en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationAndersen, R. 2011. Are there economic returns from democracy? : the experience of Sub-Saharan Africa from 1988-2007. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Andersen, Ryan AB - There is an enduring debate as to whether democracy promotes or hinders economic growth. This study examines the relationship between democracy and economic growth in 47 sub-Saharan African countries from 1988 to 2007. From the late 1980s until the mid-1990s, a period of democratization swept the continent. This period of democratization was followed by a period of strong economic growth from the mid- 1990s through 2007. It is argued here that these events are not coincidental and that democracy is advantageous to economic growth, particularly in the sub-Saharan Africa region. Using statistical analyses such as bivariate correlation and multiple regression, the relationship between democracy and economic growth is examined using a number of control variables to test the strength of the relationship between democracy and growth. To date, the empirical research on democracy and economic growth provides conflicting results, ranging from positive to negative to neutral effects. The results of this study show that there is a correlation between higher levels of democracy and higher levels of economic growth during certain periods. However, this relationship weakens to levels that are not significant once certain combinations of control variables are included. While the results of the study do not provide a definitive answer to the debate, they do refute certain arguments that have been made about the main drivers of economic growth in the region. The results also show that democracy does not have a negative effect on growth, which highly suggests that there might be a sequence effect involved in the path towards democratization and economic growth. DA - 2011 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2011 T1 - Are there economic returns from democracy? : the experience of Sub-Saharan Africa from 1988-2007 TI - Are there economic returns from democracy? : the experience of Sub-Saharan Africa from 1988-2007 UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12503 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/12503
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationAndersen R. Are there economic returns from democracy? : the experience of Sub-Saharan Africa from 1988-2007. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Political Studies, 2011 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12503en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Political Studiesen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanitiesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherPolitical Scienceen_ZA
dc.titleAre there economic returns from democracy? : the experience of Sub-Saharan Africa from 1988-2007en_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMAen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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