Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/219135 
Year of Publication: 
2020
Series/Report no.: 
CESifo Working Paper No. 8317
Publisher: 
Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute (CESifo), Munich
Abstract: 
We provide evidence that political instability deteriorates economic growth. We establish this result based on panel difference-in-differences strategies and dynamic panel data models using a large sample of 180 countries, a novel geocoded dataset for 2,660 regions, and micro data for about 250,000 households. We exploit coups d'état as a source of exogenous variation in political instability, as they are difficult to anticipate, mirror the political zeitgeist, and reduce measurement error. We use spatial variations and synthetic control methods for identification and find that periods of instability reduce growth by 2-3 percentage points, increase unemployment, and impair health and life satisfaction. The adverse effects are stronger for women than for men.
Subjects: 
coups d’état
economic growth
political stability
JEL: 
O11
O12
D74
Document Type: 
Working Paper
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