The Problem with Authoritarian Populists

Q3 Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Studies in Microeconomics Pub Date : 2024-04-10 DOI:10.1177/23210222241237041

Patrick Francois, Chris Bidner

引用次数: 0

Abstract

We assume that even though voters prefer the policies of their favoured leader they value democracy more greatly. This means that voters on both sides of a polarised policy divide would be willing to sacrifice their preferred policy if it would mean preserving democracy. However voters on one side are unsure whether voters on the other side share this commitment to democracy. We show that in such a situation an autocratic populist leader can act in ways that will undermine opposing voters beliefs that the leader’s supporters continue to value democracy. If these beliefs become pessimistic enough, a self-reinforcing cycle of mutual suspicion between voters on opposing sides leads to the inexorable demise of democracy and its replacement by autocratic rule. Understanding this, an elected leader who aspires to rule via non-democratic means may follow such autocratic populist policies in order to entrench their rule. JEL Classifications: D72, P16, P17, P48

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专制民粹主义者的问题

我们假定，尽管选民倾向于他们所支持的领导人的政策，但他们更看重民主。这就意味着，如果能维护民主，政策两极分化的两边选民都愿意牺牲自己的首选政策。然而，一方的选民并不确定另一方的选民是否也有同样的民主承诺。我们的研究表明，在这种情况下，专制的民粹主义领导人可能会采取一些行动，破坏对立选民认为该领导人的支持者继续重视民主的信念。如果这些信念变得足够悲观，敌对双方选民之间的相互猜疑就会形成自我强化的循环，导致民主不可阻挡地消亡，并被专制统治所取代。明白了这一点，渴望通过非民主手段进行统治的民选领导人可能会奉行这种专制的民粹主义政策，以巩固自己的统治。JEL Classifications：D72、P16、P17、P48

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Studies in Microeconomics Economics, Econometrics and Finance-Economics, Econometrics and Finance (all)

CiteScore

1.40

自引率

0.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： Studies in Microeconomics seeks high quality theoretical as well as applied (or empirical) research in all areas of microeconomics (broadly defined to include other avenues of decision science such as psychology, political science and organizational behavior). In particular, we encourage submissions in new areas of Microeconomics such as in the fields of Experimental economics and Behavioral Economics. All manuscripts will be subjected to a peer-review process. The intended audience of the journal are professional economists and young researchers with an interest and expertise in microeconomics and above. In addition to full-length articles MIC is interested in publishing and promoting shorter refereed articles (letters and notes) that are pertinent to the specialist in the field of Microeconomics (broadly defined). MIC will periodically publish special issues with themes of particular interest, including articles solicited from leading scholars as well as authoritative survey articles and meta-analysis on the themed topic. We will also publish book reviews related to microeconomics, and MIC encourages publishing articles from policy practitioners dealing with microeconomic issues that have policy relevance under the section Policy Analysis and Debate.