Mark Gradstein|Branko Milanovi?
Does Libertè = Egalité? A Survey of the Empirical Links between Democracy and Inequality with Some Evidence on the Transition Economies
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev|World Bank
abstract effect distribution political rights income inequality studied theoretically empirically paper reviews existing literature particular available empirical evidence reading literature suggests formal exclusion political process restrictions voting franchise appears caused high degree economic inequality democratization form franchise expansion especially women often led expansion redistribution least small sample episodes studied less pronounced way albeit emphatically compared ambiguous results earlier research recent evidence indicates inverse relationship measures democracy based civil liberties political rights inequality transition experience east european countries however seems extent go conclusions turn opens possible new vistas research namely need incorporate length democratic experience role played ideology social values