Political Alternation as a Restraint on Investing in Influence: Evidence from the Post-Communist Transition

Milanovic, Branko and Hoff, Karla and Horowitz, Shale (2008): Political Alternation as a Restraint on Investing in Influence: Evidence from the Post-Communist Transition.

Abstract

We develop and implement a method for measuring the frequency of changes in power among distinct leaders and ideologically distinct parties that is comparable across political systems. We find that more frequent alternation in power is associated with the emergence of better governance in postcommunist countries. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that firms seek durable protection from the state, which implies that expected political alternation is relevant to the decision whether to invest in influence with the governing party or, alternatively, to demand institutions that apply predictable rules, with equality of treatment, regardless of the party in power.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Governance, transition, political alternation
• Subjects: P - Economic Systems > P3 - Socialist Institutions and Their Transitions > P37 - Legal Institutions ; Illegal Behavior; P - Economic Systems > P3 - Socialist Institutions and Their Transitions

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