This paper examines the relationship between economic openness and democratic transitions across different nations. It explores how varying levels of free trade influence democratization processes in unexpected ways.
The study analyzes data from multiple countries spanning several decades to identify patterns connecting trade policies with political change.
Free trade agreements show mixed effects on democracy: promoting it in developed nations while potentially hindering transitions in developing economies. The mechanisms differ significantly across contexts, challenging simple assumptions about economic factors driving democratization.
| Free Trade and Forms of Democratization was authored by Noah Zucker. It was published by Chicago in JOP in 2021. |
