Do government formation deadlocks really damage economic growth? Evidence from history's longest period of government formation impasse

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Albalate, Daniel; Bel, Germa
• 署名单位: University of Barcelona
• 刊物名称: GOVERNANCE-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF POLICY ADMINISTRATION AND INSTITUTIONS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0952-1895
• DOI: 10.1111/gove.12410
• 发表日期: 2020
• 关键词: cabinet formation; QUALITY; institutions; belgium; policies; IMPACT; performance; LESSONS; regions; reduce

摘要

Several countries have experienced lengthy periods of government formation deadlock in recent years, as they have sought to form a new government. This study examines whether government formation deadlocks damage a country's economy. To do so, we analyze the case of Belgium, which took a record 541 days to create a post-election government, following the June 2010 federal elections. Employing the synthetic control method, our results show that the Belgium economy did not suffer an economic toll; on the contrary, gross domestic product per capita growth was higher than would have otherwise been expected. As such, our evidence contradicts frequent claims that long periods of government formation deadlock negatively affect an economy.