Structural Reforms and Elections: Evidence from a World-Wide New Dataset

Alberto Alesina, Davide Furceri, Jonathan Ostry, Chris Papageorgiou () and Dennis Quinn

No 14371, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: We assemble two unique databases. One is on reforms in domestic finance, external finance, trade, product markets and labor markets, which covers 90 advanced and developing economies from 1973 to 2014. The other is on electoral results and timing of elections. In the 66 democracies considered in the paper, we show that liberalizing reforms engender benefits for the economy, but they materialize only gradually over time. Partly because of this delayed effect, and possibly because voters are impatient or do not anticipate future benefits, liberalizing reforms are costly to incumbents when implemented close to elections. We also find that the electoral effects depend on the state of the economy at the time of reform: reforms are penalized during contractions; liberalizing reforms undertaken in expansions are often rewarded. Voters seem to attribute current economic conditions to the reforms without gully internalizing the delay that it takes for reforms to bear fruit.

Keywords: Elections; Reform; Regulation; Finance; Capital account; Current account; Trade; Product market; Labor market; Employment protection (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D72 J65 L43 L51 O43 O47 P16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cdm and nep-pol
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (20)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Structural Reforms and Elections: Evidence from a World-Wide New Dataset (2024)
Working Paper: Structural Reforms and Elections: Evidence from a World-Wide New Dataset (2020)
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