An International Comparison of Constitutional Style: Implications for Economic Progress

Gerardo Sicat and Loretta Sicat
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Gerardo Sicat: School of Economics, University of the Philippines Diliman
Loretta Sicat: UP Political Science Department, College of Social Science and Philosophy

No 200412, UP School of Economics Discussion Papers from University of the Philippines School of Economics

Abstract: Using the United States constitution as yardstick for its essential simplicity and completeness in describing the structure of government, the constitutions of twenty-two countries were studied for their language style, brevity and coverage of provisions. Most constitutions of later years have expanded coverage of institutions and the rights of citizens. The outcome is that constitutions became much longer because of broader content but also because they also cover details of institutional processes and structures. The expansion of concerns of constitutions also incorporated economic and social guarantees of citizens in addition to the guarantees of political rights and individual freedoms. Countries with simpler constitutional frameworks have experienced relative constitutional stability more than countries with long and detailed constitutions. The systemic collapse of socialist states in the 1990s brought about some return to constitutions that are simpler in coverage and which incorporate a balance of political and economic and social rights, including protection of property rights. The last part of the study comments on the implications of these constitutional structures to economic progress.

Keywords: Constitutions; comparative study of constitutions; economic growth; economic reform; social and economic rights (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 21 pages
Date: 2004-09
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Published as UPSE Discussion Paper No. 2004-12, September 2004

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