Direct Democracy: Chances and Challenges

Gebhard Kirchgässner

No 5376, CESifo Working Paper Series from CESifo

Abstract: This paper discusses several problems of direct popular decisions. In the first part, we consider problems related to the functioning of direct democracy. As a political system it only makes sense if there exists a continuous process and not if only occasional single questions are brought to a referendum. Then, the relation between direct democracy and the rule of unanimity is discussed, a subject of special relevance to the European Union, before we consider the role of quorums. In the second part, some areas are considered in which conflicts might arise. Results of initiatives might be incompatible with individual human rights or might endanger fiscal sustainability, and referenda might impede economic reforms. All these problems, however, do not justify a general rejection of direct popular rights. Thus, we conclude by listing several points that should be observed to safeguard the well-functioning of direct democracy.

Keywords: direct democracy; referendum; initiative; human rights; economic reforms; fiscal sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H11 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Related works:
Working Paper: Direct Democracy: Chances and Challenges (2015)
Working Paper: Direct Democracy: Chances and Challenges (2015)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ces:ceswps:_5376

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