The economic consequences of durable left-populist regimes in Latin America

B-Tier
Journal: Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization
Year: 2020
Volume: 177
Issue: C
Pages: 787-817

Score contribution per author:

0.670 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We study the economic effects of durable left-populist leaders in Latin America. Using synthetic control to create a credible counterfactual for four such regimes, we find that they have, on average, a negative, significant, and sizeable average effect on income. Specifically, these countries at the end of their treatment periods end up over 20% poorer on average than what the average of their synthetic counterfactuals predict. We find negative and significant single country effects on real per-capita GDP in Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Bolivia. Only in Ecuador does GDP keep up with its synthetic counterfactual. We investigate whether there is a trade-off, where national income was sacrificed to improve inequality or health. We find no significant average counter-veiling trade-off in decreased levels of income inequality or infant mortality relative to what the average synthetic predicts.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:jeborg:v:177:y:2020:i:c:p:787-817
Journal Field
Theory
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-25