Democracy and protectionism
By: Kevin H. O'Rourke, Alan M. Taylor.
Contributors: Taylor, Alan M., 1964-; National Bureau of Economic Research.
Series: NBER working paper series -- no. 12250.; Working paper series (National Bureau of Economic Research) -- working paper no. 12250.
Publisher: National Bureau of Economic Research
Published: 2006
Place of publication: Cambridge, Mass
Language: eng
Number of pages: 31
Subjects: Democracy -- Economic aspects; Free trade -- Political aspects
Description: "Does democracy encourage free trade? It depends.  Broadening the franchise involves transferring power from non-elected elites to the wider population, most of whom will be workers.  The Hecksher-Ohlin-Stolper-Samuelson logic says that democratization should lead to more liberal trade policies in countries where workers stand to gain from free trade; and to more protectionist policies in countries where workers will benefit from the imposition of tariffs and quotas.  We test and confirm these political economy implications of trade theory hypothesis using data on democracy, factor endowments, and protection in the late nineteenth century"--National Bureau of Economic Research web site.
Notes: "May 2006."

Includes bibliographical references (p. 21-23).

Also available in PDF from the NBER world wide web site (www.nber.org).