Federalism and democracy

Abstract

For United States citizens and those of Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Germany, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil and India, democracy and political decision-making by national, state or provincial, and local governments - known formally as federal governance - may seem synonymous. But to Norwegians, Swedes, the French, and New Zealanders, federal governance may seem like a lot of extra “work.” Cannot a single, nationally elected unitary government do all that a federal democracy can do but at lower cost and with less rancor? This course explores the choice between federal and unitary democracy where the goals are economic efficiency and growth, economic fairness, and open, free, and participatory governance.