Democracy, Dictatorship and People’s Beliefs: Evidence from the World Value Longitudinal Survey

Abstract

The relationship between economic outcomes and political institutions is a topic of extensive debate. Political institutions influence not only economic results but also societal norms and beliefs. This study utilizes two global datasets, the World Values Longitudinal Survey and the Global State of Democracy Index from the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, alongside economic data to examine how beliefs and values vary across different political regimes. This study has three main findings. First, political regimes significantly alter individuals' perspectives on the trade-off between equality and freedom. Specifically, under authoritarian regimes, individuals with higher incomes tend to prioritize freedom over equality more than those with lower incomes do. Second, across various regime types, individuals in higher-income categories consistently exhibit less concern for income equality than those in lower-income categories do. Third, within democratic regimes, individuals with lower incomes consistently prioritize income equality over their higher-income counterparts, regardless of regime type. These findings underscore the dynamic interplay between political institutions and societal values, highlighting how political regimes shape individual beliefs about equality, freedom, and economic fairness.