Law and Economic Growth in Ancient Athens

2022 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 203-212
Author(s):  
Edward M. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Ancient Athens

scholarly journals Democratic Stability: A Long View

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-75
Author(s):  
Federica Carugati
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Liberal Democracy ◽  
Ancient Athens ◽  
Democratic Stability ◽  
Developed Nations ◽  
Shared Norms

What are the sources of democratic stability? The evidence from three modern waves suggests that stability rests on economic growth, strong states, and liberal institutions. But can we secure democratic stability beyond liberalism? This question is relevant to those developing countries that have little hope, and perhaps little interest in liberal democracy. But it is also increasingly relevant to those developed nations where the achievements of the twentieth-century liberal order are being eroded. This article takes a fresh look at democratic stability by reviewing the evidence from the last two and a half millennia. Particular attention is devoted to the case of ancient Athens, which highlights the importance of alignment between shared norms and appropriately designed institutions. Athens’ case suggests that goods that we usually associate with modern liberal democracy do not necessarily rely on a given set of values and do not have a unique institutional manifestation.

scholarly journals Institutions, taxation, and market relationships in ancient Athens

2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 505-527 ◽  
Author(s):  
CARL HAMPUS LYTTKENS
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Fourth Century ◽  
Economic Life ◽  
Institutional Changes ◽  
Credible Commitments ◽  
Individual Behaviour ◽  
Ancient Athens ◽  
Informal Rules

Abstract:This paper explores the institutional and economic development in ancient Athens from around 600 BC into the fourth century, a period during which the Athenians experienced oligarchy, tyranny, a gradually evolving but eventually far-reaching male democracy, followed by a return to more influence for the elite. Concomitantly, economic life changed qualitatively and quantitatively. Self-sufficient farming gradually gave way to market relationships and there was substantial economic growth. This analysis of institutional changes in Athens emphasizes the importance of credible commitments from those in power to other groups in society. It is furthermore likely that the increasing reliance on market relationships gradually transformed individual behaviour and individual beliefs, leading to changes in the formal and informal rules in society. Taxation played an important role: it pushed people into market relationships, illustrated the need for credible commitments, and helps to explain why foreigners were so prominent in trade in ancient Athens.

Stepping in the Shoes of Leaders of Populist Right-Wing Parties

2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jolanda Jetten ◽  
Rachel Ryan ◽  
Frank Mols
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Growth Condition ◽  
Baseline Condition ◽  
Right Wing ◽  
Economic Context

Abstract. What narrative is deemed most compelling to justify anti-immigrant sentiments when a country’s economy is not a cause for concern? We predicted that flourishing economies constrain the viability of realistic threat arguments. We found support for this prediction in an experiment in which participants were asked to take on the role of speechwriter for a leader with an anti-immigrant message (N = 75). As predicted, a greater percentage of realistic threat arguments and fewer symbolic threat arguments were generated in a condition in which the economy was expected to decline than when it was expected to grow or a baseline condition. Perhaps more interesting, in the economic growth condition, the percentage realistic entitlements and symbolic threat arguments generated were higher than when the economy was declining. We conclude that threat narratives to provide a legitimizing discourse for anti-immigrant sentiments are tailored to the economic context.

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