Dangling at the Abyss: How Deadweight Costs and Political Attitudes May Prevent (or Induce) Collapse

2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-21
Author(s):  
J. R. Clark ◽  
John Garen
Keyword(s):  
Political Economy ◽  
20Th Century ◽  
Economic Performance ◽  
Political Attitudes ◽  
Special Interests ◽  
Political Opposition ◽  
Welfare Costs ◽  
Economic Collapse ◽  
Rational Ignorance

Abstract Analysts have considered what might check the 20th century growth in government, thereby avoiding Leviathan and economic collapse. We develop a model where political economy equilibrium pushes the economy to the brink of collapse, but rising marginal welfare costs may prevent collapse. For small reductions in welfare from government, rational ignorance enables special interests to gain. When deadweight costs become large, taxpayers provide political opposition that prevents collapse. Optimistic views of government may alter this conclusion and induce collapse. However, if favorable attitudes toward government are revised downward in light of poor economic performance, this concern is lessened.

scholarly journals The Political Economy of Crisis Recovery

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Ferdosi
Keyword(s):  
Political Economy ◽  
Economic Performance ◽  
Global Financial Crisis ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Stress Test ◽  
Welfare States ◽  
Economic Effects ◽  
The Political ◽  
Crisis Recovery ◽  
The Global Financial Crisis

The aftermath of the global financial crisis marked another stress test for welfare states and varieties of capitalism. More than ever before, governments were forced to consider substantial reforms to welfare provision and enact flexibility-enhancing measures in order to improve financial solvency and economic performance. The crash, however, was not only a regionally uneven process in its origins but also led to makeshift or uneven policy responses. As a result, the socio-economic effects of the downturn and political reactions to it varied considerably among countries. Nevertheless, there have been some common trends in outcome measures. These have served to blur the dividing lines between different welfare states and production systems, so vividly captured in the mainstream political economy literature.

Federalism and Development: The Ethiopian Dilemma

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 333-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Assefa Fiseha
Keyword(s):  
Civil War ◽  
Economic Performance ◽  
Political Instability ◽  
Federal System ◽  
Wide Spread ◽  
Political Opposition ◽  
Economic Changes ◽  
Instability Development ◽  
The Absolute ◽  
Absolute Dominance

Key to Ethiopia’s remarkable political and economic changes is its transformation from highly homogenising and centrist rule to a federal system aiming at managing its complex diversity. The post-1991 dispensation has ended years of civil war, and served as a foundation for the impressive economic performance. Lately the country has continued to face wide-spread protests. How does one explain the paradox between an impressive economic performance versus growing political instability? Development is centrally designed and managed along with the identification of poverty as an existential threat against which all resources must be mobilised. This means that development takes overriding priority and a central role, compromising the constitutional autonomy of the states. The outcome as witnessed in the protests is new mobilisation and conflict unleashed by growing ethno-nationalism. The absolute dominance of a single vanguard party that monopolised power has also overshadowed institutions and sidelined political opposition while emboldening hardliners.

scholarly journals The Political Economy of Industrial Development in Pakistan: A Long-Term Perspective

2009 ◽  
Vol 14 (Special Edition) ◽  
pp. 29-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Imran Ali ◽  
Adeel Malik
Keyword(s):  
Political Economy ◽  
Foreign Aid ◽  
Industrial Development ◽  
Industrial Structure ◽  
Initial Conditions ◽  
Special Interests ◽  
Track Record ◽  
Low Levels

Private industrial development in Pakistan has a mixed track record. This paper presents a political economy overview of industrial development in Pakistan. Starting with an analysis of initial conditions, such as low levels of urbanization and out-migration of bourgeoisie, the paper looks at the ways in which policies were used to create advantages for elites and special interests. The paper also investigates the role of foreign aid in distorting industrial structure.

Africa’s Political Economy in the Contemporary Era

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter M. Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Political Economy ◽  
Development Strategy ◽  
Economic Performance ◽  
Developmental Trajectories ◽  
Economic Change ◽  
Political Reform ◽  
First Century ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Policy Orientation

This article discusses Africa’s political economy in the contemporary era. It begins with an overview of various theories, models and debates that address African economic performance before turning to a discussion of the interrelationships between institutions, politics, and economic change. It then proceeds with an analysis of the politics of economic change in Africa following years of colonization; how the development strategies charted at independence came under stress from internal and global factors in the 1970s; the shifts in development strategy and policy orientation that African states went through in the 1980s; the influence of political reform and democratization on the trajectory of African economies during the 1990s; and the acceleration of economic growth in many African countries in the twenty-first century. Finally, the article assesses African economies under the contemporary period in which enhanced performance and a more propitious context create opportunities for a shift in developmental trajectories.

scholarly journals „Odświętna akcyjność”. Dni Kultury, Oświaty, Książki i Prasy w polityce władz Polskiej Rzeczypospolitej Ludowej w latach 1971-1989

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 317-332
Author(s):  
Dariusz Jarosz
Keyword(s):  
20Th Century ◽  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Social Economic ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Book Production ◽  
Political Opposition ◽  
Martial Law ◽  
Production Processes ◽  
National Tradition ◽  
Culture Education

The Days of Culture, Education, Book, and Press (until 1973 – the Days of Education, Book, and Press) in the years 1971-1989 was an annual campaign with goals, agenda, and forms settled by the authorities of the party and the state. Analysis of its program, including anniversaries being celebrated, indicates, that until 1989 they were planned to bring together (adequately interpreted) elements of national tradition and current political goals of the PRP authorities, their ideological, Marxist, „revolutionary” background. Relatively broad acceptance for referring to national past (was it verbal only or actual – to be settled in future research) makes programs of these Days of the 70s and 80s of the 20th century significantly different from those from the Stalinism period. Scale and forms of the events had been evolving, due to social, economic and political changes of that time. The most important and influencing concepts of the Days were: legitimizational concepts of the authorities, activities of political opposition, the „Solidarity” revolution, the martial law, and economic crisis, resulting in difficulties in the book production processes.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document