Outcomes of Democracy

How to judge democracy by its outcomes: accountable and legitimate government, economic growth, inequality, accommodating diversity, and dignity and freedom.

Key ideas

Democracy is expected to produce a government that is accountable, responsive and legitimate.
Transparency is citizens’ right and means to check that decisions followed the correct procedures, as the Right to Information allows.
Democratic decisions can take longer because they rest on deliberation, but they are more acceptable.
In the book’s 1950–2000 table, dictatorships grew slightly faster overall, but among poor countries the gap is negligible.
Democracies have not done well at reducing economic inequality: in some countries the richest fifth takes over 60% of income.
Democracy accommodates diversity when the majority works with minorities and every citizen can be in the majority at some time.
Democracy supports the dignity and freedom of women and disadvantaged groups, and complaints about it show that citizens have become aware.

Remember

Growth 1950–2000, all countries	dictatorships 4.42%, democracies 3.95%
Growth, poor countries	dictatorships 4.34%, democracies 4.28%
Legitimate government	the people’s own, chosen by them
Gap in rates	4.42 − 3.95 = 0.47 percentage points

Watch out

Calling a gap between two rates a percentage of a rate: it is a difference in percentage points.
Expecting democracy alone to guarantee growth: growth depends on many other things.
Thinking complaints mean democracy has failed: they show aware citizens.

Worked example

(a) In the book’s table, how much faster did dictatorships grow than democracies overall (4.42% vs 3.95%), and among poor countries (4.34% vs 4.28%)? (b) For an economy of ₹8,100 crore, what is the overall gap worth in a year, to the nearest crore? (c) Why does the book still prefer democracy?

Working: 4.42 − 3.95; 4.34 − 4.28; 0.47% of 8,100

Answer: (a) 0.47 and 0.06 percentage points (b) about ₹38 crore (c) The gap is small, and democracy has other outcomes like dignity, freedom and legitimacy.