On the Joint Evolution of Culture and Political Institutions: Elites and Civil Society

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Bisin, Alberto; Verdier, Thierry
• 署名单位: New York University; National Bureau of Economic Research; Center for Economic & Policy Research (CEPR)
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF POLITICAL ECONOMY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0022-3808
• DOI: 10.1086/727711
• 发表日期: 2024
• 页码: 1485-1564
• 关键词: economic-development; social-structure; transmission; DEMOCRACY; leaders; GROWTH; TRADE; preferences; persistence; INEQUALITY

摘要

We provide an abstract model of the interaction between culture and political institutions. The model is designed to study the political economy of elites and civil society on the determination of long-run socioeconomic activity. We characterize conditions such that the cultural traits of elites and civil society and the institutions determining their relative political power complement (substitute) each other, giving rise to a multiplier effect that amplifies (dampens) their combined ability to spur socioeconomic activity. We show how the joint dynamics may display hysteresis and oscillations, depending on the form of the interaction between elites and civil society.