Democracy, History, and Economic Performance: A Case-Study Approach

Crossnational statistical studies show a positive relationship between the length of time a country has been democratic and its economic performance. Old democracies grow faster, ceteris paribus, and also demonstrate advantages in some economic policies thought to be conducive to growth. However, the causal connections between regime history and economic policy and performance remain opaque. Arguments are highly speculative, for the causal pathways are usually difficult to measure and are not readily testable in a large-N cross-country format. In order to illuminate possible interconnections between regime history and economic performance we identify three countries in the developing world whose recent history may be regarded as illustrative: Brazil, India, and Mauritius. Our analysis of these cases focuses on the achievement of policy consensus and policy reform, both of which are commonly regarded as critical to economic performance. Intensive study of our chosen cases suggests multiple mechanisms by which democratic experience might translate into greater success on these policy dimensions.     

Does income inequality sand or grease the wheels of entrepreneurial activity? International evidence

Using a large panel of countries, this research examines the influence of income inequality on entrepreneurship. The impact of income disparities on entrepreneurship is not clear a priori—with a positive effect when inequality encourages entrepreneurship (“greasing effect”) or a negative effect when entrepreneurship discourages entrepreneurship (“sanding effect”). Our findings, across alternative measures of income inequality and even allowing for simultaneity, are consistent with the motivation or greasing effect. An equally insightful finding is that the effect of inequality switches across the prevalence of entrepreneurship—the sanding effect exists in nations with a low prevalence of entrepreneurship, and switches to a greasing effect as the prevalence of entrepreneurship increases. This is suggestive of positive network externalities from entrepreneurship—it takes a threshold level of entrepreneurship in a nation for greasing from income inequality to take hold.     

论先秦的言论自由与舆论控制——以《管子》传播思想为中心

先秦时期就已经兴起了原始民主思想与言论自由思潮,稷下学宫就是一个自由论辩的场所,引发了百家争鸣的高潮。《管子》一书正是在这种原始民主思想、自由主义背景影响下逐渐形成的,是百家争鸣的投影。《管子》提倡言论传播的自由,要求君主要善于听取民众的意见,君臣之间、群臣之间也要做到言论传播的畅通。但是《管子》对舆论传播的控制是很严厉的,采用法制的手段实行禁止、诛罚等,客观上要求言论要"名实相符",在某种程度上还反对著书立说。《管子》一方面提倡言论传播自由,另一方面又对舆论传播进行控制,这正是民主与法制这对矛盾范畴具有一定张力和弹性的体现。这对我们仍具有借鉴价值和现实意义。     

Indigenous and democratic decision-making: issues from community-based ecotourism in the Boumā National Heritage Park,Fiji

Participatory development literature involving community-based ecotourism management (CBEM) has only recently addressed issues pertaining to indigenous governance and decision-making systems. This paper contributes to sustainable tourism by presenting local decision-making practices and issues arising from the perspective of the members of one village in the Boumā National Heritage Park, Fiji. It shows that introduced democratic decision-making systems may not contribute to political empowerment in CBEM and can cause difficult situations. It is argued that greater attention to local systems of governance is required if tourism practitioners are to fully understand decision-making and participation in CBEM. The paper also offers a culturally appropriate methodology that may produce more meaningful outcomes for sustainable tourism research in indigenous Fijian contexts, and in other contexts worldwide. It argues that levels of empowerment should not just be treated as the outcome but as a part of the process of tourism development. It explores the core Fijian cultural concept of vanua as a way of life, involving interrelated social, ecological and spiritual elements. An emic perspective utilising informal talanoa (discussions) is used and examined, along with the roles of kin groups, village spokesmen and clan systems, and their relationship with western business decision-making practices.     

Cowboy, Representative of American Frontier

美国的西进运动从19世纪初开始，直到1890年终止，延续了将近一个世纪。在这一过程中，西部大平原上的牛仔与广袤的原始自然搏斗，创造出西部神化的同时，也缔造出边疆精神。本文将讨论作为西部大草原的主宰，西部牛仔身上凝结着其个人主义，独立自由，善恶分明等牛仔文化和所其所代表的边疆精神。     

The Political Economy of Tax-Based Incomes Policy: Wealth Effects of Post Keynesian TIP

This paper explores the economics of electoral democracy, an almost entirely neglected subject. Running for office necessitates resources. But students of democracy have had almost nothing to say about how much money should be spent by candidates or where that money should come from. As a result, there is a gaping void in the theory of democracy. Joseph A. Schumpeter used a market analogy in his discussion of the electoral process, but even he did not discuss how electoral campaigns are to be paid for. In fact, the few citizens who largely fund campaigns for office in the United States purchase non-rivalrous influence. They obtain the ability to shape the policies that affect all citizens. In this way, political equality is undermined. The paper concludes that achieving a more representative political system can best be attained by treating political campaigns as a public good.     

浅论民主、法治与宪政的关系——从“洛阳玉米种子案”引发的思考

在河南洛阳玉米种子案中，中国现阶段的民主、法治与宪政之间的张力暴露无疑，其实三者之间关系并非只有冲突与抵牾。首先，民主与法治是互为内容与形式的，两者之间有着相互依存、相互促进的关系。其次，法治与宪政之间属于上下位的关系，宪政是对法治缺陷的修正，最后，民主与宪政关系表现在：宪政不仅是对法治的制约，而且也是对民主缺陷的修正，二者是形式上（主观上）的冲突、而实质上（客观上）的相互制约但同时具有彼此促进的关系。     

Towards Sustainability Economics: Principles and Values

Synopsis  Radical alternatives, in terms of our ideas about science in society, about economics, ideology and institutional arrangements, should be included among possibilities considered within the scope of a pluralistic philosophy. While all these aspects of our mental maps are interrelated and important, economics plays a key role in attempts to get closer to a sustainable society. Mainstream neoclassical economics is not enough. The tendency to exclusively rely on this particular theory is considered part of the problems faced. A ‘sustainability economics’ more in line with dominant ideas of democracy is proposed, emphasizing the ethical, ideological and political elements. Reference is made to institutional theory but the principles and concepts suggested are in many ways similar to other kinds of heterodox economics and developments in other social sciences. Neoclassical economics is used as a point of reference in pointing to alternative ideas about human beings, organizations, markets, decision- making, efficiency, rationality, progress in society and institutional change processes. Predilection for such an alternative conceptual framework (or for neoclassical economics) is not exclusively a scientific choice but as much a matter of political and ideological preferences. One paradigm may be dominant at a time, but because of the ideological specificity of each paradigm, competing theoretical perspectives should be accepted and even encouraged in a democratic society.