Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/50822 
Year of Publication: 
2006
Series/Report no.: 
KOF Working Papers No. 147
Publisher: 
ETH Zurich, KOF Swiss Economic Institute, Zurich
Abstract: 
This paper analyzes whether the educational and professional background of a head of government matters for the implementation of market-liberalizing reforms. Employing panel data over the period 1970-2002, we present empirical evidence based on a novel data set covering profession and education of more than 500 political leaders from 73 countries. Our results show that entrepreneurs, professional scientists, and trained economists are significantly more reform oriented. Contrary, union executives tend to impede reforms. We also highlight interactions between profession and education with time in office and the political leaning of the ruling party.
Subjects: 
Reforms
Economic Policy
Economic Freedom
Interest Groups
Lobbying
JEL: 
D72
E61
H11
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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