Emerging Democracies

Research

Taking Institutions Seriously John Nye \| Jun 21, 2011 This essay uses the Philippines as a case study to suggest what is wrong with leading development prescriptions.	Land Reform as Social Justice: The Case of South Africa Karol Boudreaux \| Mar 08, 2010 As a result of a very long history of discriminatory legislation, black South Africans suffered substantial harms at the hands of past governments. Following the political transition in 1994, the new…
Investing in Institutions Ryan A. Compton, Daniel Giedeman, Noel D. Johnson \| Oct 2009 Robust institutional change is difficult to achieve. However, the growth paths of some countries are more likely to be affected by contemporaneous political turmoil than others. This paper supports…	The Democratic Domino Theory Peter Leeson, Andrea Dean \| Jul 15, 2009 According to the democratic domino theory, increases or decreases in democracy in one country spread and “infect” neighboring countries, increasing or decreasing their democracy in turn. Using spatial econometrics and panel data that covers over 130 countries between 1850 and 2000, this paper empirically investigates the democratic domino theory.
The Role of Entrepreneurship in Conflict Reduction in the Post-Genocide Rwandan Coffee Industry Jutta Tobias, Karol Boudreaux \| Jun 2009 Entrepreneurship is widely acknowledged as a catalyst for poverty reduction and economic development. This paper presents evidence from a field survey conducted during the summer of 2008 among a…	Revolution Jack Goldstone \| Jun 16, 2009 Theories of revolutions are moving away from a predominantly structural view, in favor of a more process oriented view. In this approach, revolutionary situations emerge from a combination of structural background factors that present challenges to states or that increase conflicts among states, elites, and popular groups.

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Research Summaries & Toolkits

Yes Africa Can

Karol Boudreaux | Apr 28, 2010

In this research summary published by the World Bank, Karol Boudreaux explores the economic success Rwanda has seen by liberalizing their coffee sector.

Speeches & Presentations

Toward Legitimacy: Strategic Institution Building

Jack Goldstone, Maurice P. McTigue, Vernon Smith | Nov 04, 2003

Maurice McTigue, Vice President of Mercatus, Vernon Smith, Mercatus Center Fellow, and Jack Goldstone, Mercatus Center Fellow, participate in a panel discussion concerning reconstruction in Iraq.

America's Role as Nation Builder: Lessons Learned and Applied to Iraq: Introduction

Paul Edwards | Nov 03, 2003

Introductory remarks from the Mercatus Center conference entitled "America's Role as Nation Builder: Lessons Learned and Applied to Iraq."

Experts

Christopher Coyne is Associate Director of the F. A. Hayek Program for Advanced Study in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. He also holds the title of F.A. Harper Professor of Economics at the Mercatus Center and he is a member of the department of economics at George Mason University where he serves as the Director of Graduate Studies.

Hilton Root

Hilton Root is an affiliated senior scholar at the Mercatus Center and professor of public policy at George Mason University. His primary research interests are international economics, economic development and policy reform, and Asian affairs.

Videos

Montenegro: The Challenges Of A Newborn State

| October 10, 2007

Island Hoping: US-Cuba Policy A Debate

| October 04, 2007

Podcasts

Political and Economic Change in Egypt and the Middle East

S. Ramachandran, Christopher Coyne, Jack Goldstone, Peshwaz Faizulla | March 03, 2011

With the current turmoil in the Middle East and shifting political tides, it is difficult to predict the changes that will result from today's events. To discuss the current situation, the Mercatus Center and the George Mason University Economics Society brought together a panel of academics and development experts to discuss the political and economic change that the Middle East is experiencing.

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Recent Events

Alternative Futures: Hilton Root on the Waning of Liberal Internationalism and the Resurgence of Global Governance Diversity

The present institutional structure of the international system does not provide sufficient stimulus for transition to republican democracy as liberal optimists hope. Neither does liberal…

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Books

The Neoliberal Revolution In Eastern Europe: Economic Ideas in the Transition from Communism

Anthony Evans, Paul Dragos Aligica | Mar 13, 2009

Very few studies have ventured to explore the shift in economic ideas that were such a critical factor in shaping and understanding the East European transition process. Paul Dragos Aligica and…

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Taking Institutions Seriously John Nye \| Jun 21, 2011 This essay uses the Philippines as a case study to suggest what is wrong with leading development prescriptions.	Land Reform as Social Justice: The Case of South Africa Karol Boudreaux \| Mar 08, 2010 As a result of a very long history of discriminatory legislation, black South Africans suffered substantial harms at the hands of past governments. Following the political transition in 1994, the new…
Investing in Institutions Ryan A. Compton, Daniel Giedeman, Noel D. Johnson \| Oct 2009 Robust institutional change is difficult to achieve. However, the growth paths of some countries are more likely to be affected by contemporaneous political turmoil than others. This paper supports…	The Democratic Domino Theory Peter Leeson, Andrea Dean \| Jul 15, 2009 According to the democratic domino theory, increases or decreases in democracy in one country spread and “infect” neighboring countries, increasing or decreasing their democracy in turn. Using spatial econometrics and panel data that covers over 130 countries between 1850 and 2000, this paper empirically investigates the democratic domino theory.
The Role of Entrepreneurship in Conflict Reduction in the Post-Genocide Rwandan Coffee Industry Jutta Tobias, Karol Boudreaux \| Jun 2009 Entrepreneurship is widely acknowledged as a catalyst for poverty reduction and economic development. This paper presents evidence from a field survey conducted during the summer of 2008 among a…	Revolution Jack Goldstone \| Jun 16, 2009 Theories of revolutions are moving away from a predominantly structural view, in favor of a more process oriented view. In this approach, revolutionary situations emerge from a combination of structural background factors that present challenges to states or that increase conflicts among states, elites, and popular groups.

Mercatus Center

Emerging Democracies