Economic impact of direct democracy : a literature review, suggestions for Greece
Part of : Αρχείον οικονομικής ιστορίας ; Vol.XXV, No.1, 2013, pages 7-40
Issue:
Pages:
7-40
Author:
Abstract:
The purpose of this paper is to define the issues concerning the processes of citizen participation in political decisions in Greece and the impact that participation has in the economic performance. After analyzing the dimensions of democracy –especially the direct one–, the ancient Athenian democracy and elements of direct democracy in the modern world focusing in Switzerland, Germany and the U.S.A. we discuss the possibility of adopting stronger direct democratic processes affecting the economic performance in Greece. We also suggest some indicative questions for possible referenda. The conclusions make it necessary to adopt bottom up processes of direct democracy to put fiscal reform issues and creating an attractive business environment in order to reduce fraud, increase government revenue, stimulate the labor market and increase growth.
Subject:
Subject (LC):
Keywords:
direct democracy, economic impact, athenian democracy, initiative
Notes:
JEL Classification: N4, K1, P59, e-mail: nkyr@ergoman.gr, e-mail: gkanas@uth.gr.
References (1):
- Aristotle (2000). Athenaion Politeia [Constitution of the Athenians], Agra (in greek).Altman, D. (2008). Collegiate Executives and Direct Democracy in Switzerland and Uruguay: Similar Institutions, Opposite Political Goals, Distinct Results, Swiss Political Science Review 14(3): 483–520.Bachrach, P. (1970). Die Theorie demokratischer Elitenherrschaft, Frankfurt a.M.Bachrach, P., and Botwinik, A. (1992). Power and Empowerment: A radical theory of Participatory Democracy, Temple University Press, Philadelphia, Pa.Bank of Greece (2011). Annual Report on the Greek Economy at the 78th Annual Meeting of Shareholders 18 April 2011, printed in the Banknote Printing Works of the Bank of Greece (IETA) (in greek).Barber, B. (1984). Strong democracy: participatory politics for a new age, University of California Press.Barro, R. (1996). Democracy and Growth, Journal of Economic Growth, 1, 1-27.Blomberg, B., Hess, G., and Weerapana, A. (2004). The impact of voter initiatives on economic activity. European Journal of Political Economy, 20(1), 207–226.Butler, D., and Ranney, A. (1994). Referendums Around the World, Washington D.C.Cohen, R. (1992). Athenian Democracy (From its birth to its death), Eimos (in greek).Crick, B. (2002). Democracy, A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press.Cronin, T. (1999). Direct Democracy The Politics of Initiative, Referendum, and Recall, Harvard University Press.Dahl, R. (1998). On Democracy, Yale University Press.Dunn, J. (1992). Democracy: The Unfinished Journey, 508 BC to AD 1993, Oxford University Press.Economist (14/05/2009). California The ungovernable state, As California ceases to function like a sensible state, a new constitution looks both necessary and likely http://www.economist.com/node/13649050?STORY_ID=13649050, retrieved 14/1/2012.Economist (20/04/2011). Lessons from California, The perils of extreme democracy, California offers a warning to voters all over the world http://www.economist.com/node/18586520, retrieved 15/1/2012.Federal Constitution of the Swiss Confederation of 18 April 1999 (Status as of 1 January 2011).Feld, L., Kirchgässner, G., and Schaltegger, C. (2004). Fiscal Federalism and Economic Performance: Evidence from Swiss Cantons, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Fachbereich Wirtschaftswissenschaften Nr. 20, Marburg.Feld, L., and Kirchgässner, G. (2005). Sustainable Fiscal Policy in a Federal System, Switzerland as an example, Working Paper No 16, Center for Research in Economics, Management and the Arts. (Crema), Basel.Feld, L., and Kirchgässner, G. (2006). On the effectiveness of debt break, the Swiss Experience, Working Paper No 21, Center for Research in Economics, Management and the Arts. (Crema), Basel.Feld, L., Kirchgässner G., and Fischer, J. (2010). The Effect of Direct Democracy on Income Redistribution: evidence for Switzerland, Economic Inquiry Vol. 48, No. 4, October 2010, 817–840Gallagher, M. (1996). «Epilogue» at Gallagher Michael & Uleri, Pier Vincenzo, The Referendum Experience in Europe, London/ New York, pp.226-252.Giddens, A. (1997). Jenseits von Links und Rechts, FrankfurtHabermas, J. (1992). Legitimationprobleme im Spatkapitalismus, Frankfurt.Habermas, J. (1999). Drei normative Modelle Der Demokratie, in Habermas J., Dei Einbeziehung des Anderen. Studien zur Politischen Theorie, Frankfurt.Hellenic Parliament (2009). Constitution of Greece, as revised in 28th May 2008.Hirst, P. (1994). Associative democracy: New Forms of Economic and Social Governance, Cambridge.Initiative & Referendum Institute (2012). University of Southern California,, http://www.iandrinstitute.org/statewide_i&r.htm , retrieved in 10/01//2012.Kaufmann, B., and Waters, D. (2004). Direct Democracy in Europe: A Comprehensive Reference Guide to the Initiative and Referendum Process, in Carolina Academic Press, Durham, North Carolina, USA, Sponsored by IRI Europe, Initiative & Referendum Institute Europe and IRI Initiative & Referendum Institute.Kaufmann, B., Buchi, R., and Braun, N. (2010). The IRI (Initiative & Referendum Institute Europe) Guidebook to Direct Democracy in Switzerland and beyond, editor Paul Carline in cooperation with Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, General Secretariat, Presence Switzerland.Kobach, K. (1993). The Referendum: Direct Democracy in Switzerland, Aldershot.Kyriazis, N. (2012). Why Ancient Greece, The birth and development of democracy, Psichogios, Athens.Linder, W. (1994). Swiss Democracy. Possible Solutions to Conflict in Multicultural Societies, Mcmillan PressNew York.Linder, W. (1999). Schweizeriche Democratie. Institutionen, Prozesse, Perspektiven, Bern/Stuttgart/Wien.Lipset, M. S. (1960). Political Man, The Social Bases of Politics, Doubleday & Company, Inc., Garden City, New York.Los Angeles Times (27/12/2011). The year of the recall, by Spivak Joshua, USA, website:http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oespivak-recall-20111227,0,894634.story, retrieved 9/1/2012.Lowenstein, D. (2010). After the tax revolt: California’s Proposition 13 turns 30, California Legal History, Volume 5, Publisher: California Supreme Court Historical Society, Fresno, USA, Review Essay of Jack Citrin and Isaac William Martin, Editors, Berkeley: Institute of Governmental Studies, 2009, 169 pp.Lysias (1939). Lysias Speeches. Part I – Part II., Translation- Comments Stavros Tzoumeleas, Zacharopoulos Publishing, Athens (in greek).Madronal, H. (2005). Direct Democracy in Latin America, Published by: Mas Democracia and democracy international, Spain.Matsusaka, J. (2005a). Direct Democracy Works, The Journal of Economic Perspectives, Vol. 19, No. 2, pp. 185-206.Matsusaka, J. (2005b). The eclipse of legislatures: Direct democracy in the 21st century, Public Choice, 124: 157–177.Matsusaka, J. (2005c). Direct Democracy and Fiscal Gridlock: Have Voter Initiatives Paralyzed the California Budget? Center for the stuffy of Law and Politics, Working Paper No. 23, USC Law School and California Institute of Technology, Los Angeles.Matsusaka, J. (2010). A Case Study on Direct Democracy: Have Voter Initiatives Paralyzed the California Budget?, The Book of the States, The Council of State Governments, Ballot PropositionsNaftemporiki (2012). real time spread 10-year-bond, website: http://www.naftemporiki.gr/finance/spread.Pateman, C. (1970). Participation and democratic theory, LondonPrzewoski, A., and Limonghi F (1993). Political Regimes and Economic Growth, Journal of Economic Perspectives, 7 (3), 51-69.Schmidt, M. (2000). Theories of democracy, Savalas, Athens (in greek).Simon, H., and March, J. (1993). Organisations, Wiley-Blackwell, 2nd edition.Sinclair, R. (1991). Democracy and Participation in Athens, Cambridge University Press.Tavarez, J., and Wacziarg, R. (2001). How democracy affects growth, European Economic Review, 45, 1341-1378.Tocqueville, A. (1840). De la Democratie en Amerique, France.Transparency International (2009). Corruption Perceptions Index, www.transparency.orgWarren, M. (1992), Democratic theory and self-transformation, American Political Science Review, Vol. 86, No. 1 pp. 8-23.
