This paper introduces preliminary evidence from a cross-country database of policy characteristics and potential uses of that database. While most databases have emphasized either the content of policies (e.g., size of government deficits) or countries’ formal institutions (e.g., political...

This paper presents a new data set on electoral systems and outlines its potential uses in further research exploring the connections between electoral systems and economic outcomes. The data set provides indicators of the degree to which individual politicians can further their careers by...

This paper introduces preliminary evidence from a cross-country database of policy characteristics and potential uses of that database. While most databases have emphasized either the content of policies (e. g. , size of government deficits) or countries' formal institutions (e. g. , political...

This paper presents a new dataset on electoral systems and outlines its potential uses in further research exploring the connections between electoral systems and economic outcomes. The dataset provides indicators of the degree to which individual politicians can further their careers by...

The capacity to sustain policies over time and the capacity to adjust policies in the face of changing circumstances are two desirable properties of policymaking systems. The veto player approach has suggested that polities with more veto players will have the capacity to sustain policies at the...

In the past thirty years, democratic freedom and competitive electoral processes have taken hold as never before in Latin America. This document zeroes in (by way of summarizing the results of nine detailed studies developed by field experts) on the intricate workings of democratic institutions,...

Does the historical macroeconomic environment affect preferences for redistribution? We find that individuals who experienced a recession when young believe that success in life depends more on luck than effort, support more government redistribution, and tend to vote for left-wing parties. The...