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Class 10 Outcomes of Democracy: cheat sheet
CBSE Social Science. 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.
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