An important distinction in practice concerns the interaction between the economic and the political system. A democracy born in an open economic environment, with a well functioning market system, widespread foreign direct investment, and sizeable international trade, is likely to consolidate economic liberalism, stabilize expectations, and hence lead to more investment and faster growth.
在现实中，经济与政治体系的互动与一种重要的特性有关。（如果）一个民主体制诞生在一种市场机制健全、国外直接投资广泛和国际贸易量庞大的开放的经济环境中，那么它就更能够强化经济自由主义、稳定人们的预期从而吸引更多的投资和实现更快的经济增长。反之，如果经济被国家严格掌控，针对国外进口和资本流动的壁垒高筑，或依赖出让可耗尽的资源来换取外汇，那么这样的政体向民主转型的过程就会充斥着民粹主义和再分配的麻烦，从而不利于经济增长。