Why Democracy?, Ctd

by Patrick Appel

Andrew Sprung thinks Richard Florida may have made a mistake:

Florida tells us that the study finds that GDP per capita is negatively associated with the transition to democracy. The study authors write that GDP growth is negatively associated with transition -- in either direction. That's a big difference. Contra Florida, richer countries are not less likely to transition (though they may not be more likely to). Growing countries are less likely to transition.