Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Political Democracy and the Physical Quality of Life: The Cross-National Evidence

  • Published:
Social Indicators Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Why do some countries have a high quality of life? One important explanation is that political democracy fosters life quality. Proponents of this perspective argue that political democracy acts to center the public agenda on state actions that enhance life quality. The cross-national effects of democracy (and several alternative variables) on the physical quality of life were examined for 87 countries at three points in time: 1970, 1980, and 1990. Results indicate the existence of a strong positive relationship between democracy and life quality for all three time periods.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Anand, S. and M. Ravallion: 1993, 'Human development in poor countries: On the role of private incomes and public services', Journal of Economic Perspectives 7, pp. 133–150.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bates, R. H.: 1981, Markets and States in Tropical Africa (University of California Press, Berkeley).

    Google Scholar 

  • Block, F.: 1977, 'The ruling class does not rule: Notes on the Marxist theory of the state', Socialist Revolution 7, pp. 6–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bollen, K. A.: 1980, 'Issues in the comparative measurement of political democracy', American Sociological Review 45, pp. 370–390.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bollen, K. A.: 1983, 'World system position, dependency and democracy: The cross-national evidence', American Sociological Review 48, pp. 468–479.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bollen, K. A.: 1985, 'Political rights and political liberties: An evaluation of human rights measures, 1950–1984', Human Rights Quarterly 7, pp. 567–591.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bollen, K. A.: 1990, 'Political democracy: Conceptual and measurement traps', Studies in Comparative International Development 25, pp. 7–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bollen, K. A.: 1993, 'Liberal democracy: Validity and method factors in crossnational measures', American Journal of Political Science 37, pp. 1207–1230.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bornschier, V. and C. Chase-Dunn: 1985, Transnational Corporations and Underdevelopment (Praeger, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bornschier, V. and C. Chase-Dunn: 1993, 'TNCs and underdevelopment', unpublished paper.

  • Bradshaw, Y. W. and J. Huang: 1991, 'Intensifying global dependency: Foreign debt, structural adjustment, and third world underdevelopment', The Sociological Quarterly 32, pp. 321–342.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradshaw, Y. W., R. Noonan, L. Gash and C. B. Sershen: 1993, 'Borrowing against the future: Children and third world indebtedness', Social Forces 71, pp. 629–656.

    Google Scholar 

  • Breedlove, W. and J. M. Armer: 1997, 'Dependency, techno-economic heritage, disarticulation, and social development in less developed countries', Sociological Perspectives 40, pp. 661–680.

    Google Scholar 

  • Catton, W. R., Jr.: 1980, Overshoot (University of Chicago Press, Chicago).

    Google Scholar 

  • Cereseto, S. and H. Waitzkin: 1986, 'Economic development, political-economic system, and the physical quality of life', American Journal of Public Health 76, pp. 661–666.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chase-Dunn, C.: 1989, Global Formation (Basil Blackwell, Cambridge, MA).

    Google Scholar 

  • Cobb, C. W. and J. D. Cobb, Jr.: 1994, The Green National Product (University Press of America, Lanham, MD).

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, J. E.: 1995, How Many People Can the Earth Support? (W.W. Norton, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Crenshaw, E. M., A. Z. Ameen, and M. Christenson: 1997, 'Population dynamics and economic development: Age-specific population growth rates and economic growth in developing countries, 1968 to 1990', American Sociological Review 62, pp. 974–984.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dahl, R. A.: 1971, Polyarchy (Yale University Press, New Haven, CT).

    Google Scholar 

  • Daly, H.: 1996, Beyond Growth (Beacon Press, Boston).

    Google Scholar 

  • Daly, H. and J. B. Cobb, Jr.: 1994, For the Common Good, 2nd edition (Beacon Press, Boston).

    Google Scholar 

  • Dasgupta, P.: 1993, An Inquiry into Well-Being and Destitution (Oxford University Press, Oxford).

    Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E. and C. Diener: 1995, 'The wealth of nations revisted: Income and quality of life', Social Indicators Research 36, pp. 275–286.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dietz, T., L. Kalof and R. S. Frey: 1991, 'On the utility of robust and resampling procedures', Rural Sociology 56, pp. 461–474.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dixon, W. J.: 1985, 'Trade concentration, economic growth, and the provision of basic human needs', Social Science Quarterly 65, pp. 761–774.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dixon, W. J. and T. Boswell: 1996a, 'Dependency, disarticulation, and denominator effects: Another look at foreign capital penetration', American Journal of Sociology 102, pp. 543–562.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dixon, W. J. and T. Boswell: 1996b, 'Differential productivity, negative externalities, and foreign capital dependency: Reply to Firebaugh', American Journal of Sociology 102, pp. 576–584.

    Google Scholar 

  • Doyal, L. and I. Gough: 1991, A Theory of Human Need (Macmillan, London).

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunlap, R. and W. R. Catton: 1994, 'struggling with human exemptionalism: The rise, decline, and revitalization of environmental sociology', The American Sociologist 25, pp. 5–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, P.: 1979, Dependent Development (Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ).

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, P., D. Rueschemeyer and T. Skocpol (eds.): 1985, Bringing the State Back In (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge).

    Google Scholar 

  • Firebaugh, G.: 1992, 'Growth effects of foreign and domestic investment', American Journal of Sociology 98, pp. 105–130.

    Google Scholar 

  • Firebaugh, G.: 1996, 'Does foreign capital harm poor nations?: New estimates based on Dixon and Boswell's measure of capital penetration', American Journal of Sociology 102, pp. 563–575.

    Google Scholar 

  • Firebaugh, G. and F. D. Beck: 1994, 'Does economic growth benefit the masses?: Growth, dependence, and welfare in the third world', American Sociological Review 59, pp. 631–653.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frank, A. G.: 1972, 'The development of underdevelopment', in J.D. Cockcroft, A. G. Frank, and D. L. Johnson (eds.), Development and Underdevelopment (Anchor, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Franke, R.W. and B. H. Chasin: 1994, Kerala, 2nd edition (Institute for Food and Development Policy, Oakland, CA).

    Google Scholar 

  • Frey, R. S. and T. Dietz: 1990, 'The growth of capital cities in the world economic system', Sociological Spectrum 10, pp. 271–281.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frey, R. S. and I. Al-Mansour: 1995, 'The effects of development, dependence, and population pressure on democracy: The cross-national evidence', Sociological Spectrum 15, pp. 181–208.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gastil, R. D.: 1982, Freedom in the World (Greenwood Press, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Gastil, R. D.: 1990a, 'The comparative survey of freedom: Experience and suggestions', Comparative International Development 25, pp. 25–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gastil, R. D.: 1990b, Freedom in the World, 1989–1990 (Freedom House, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Gastil, R. D.: 1991, Freedom in the World: Political Rights and Civil Liberties, 1990–1991 (Greenwood Press, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldemberg, J., T. B. Johansson, A. K. N. Reddy and R. H. Williams: 1985, 'Basic needs and much more with one kilowatt per capita', Ambio 14, pp. 190–200.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gough, I. and T. Thomas: 1994, 'Need satisfaction and welfare outcome: Theory and explanations', Social Policy and Administration 28, pp. 33–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hardin, G.: 1993, Living within Limits (Oxford University Press, Oxford).

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, P.: 1993, The Third Revolution (Penguin, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ingham, B.: 1993, 'The meaning of development: Interactions between 'new' and 'old' ideas', World Development 21, pp. 1803–1821.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackman, R. W.: 1973, 'On the relation of economic development to democratic performance', American Journal of Sociology 77, pp. 611–621.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kurian, G. T.: 1979, The New Book ofWorld Rankings (Facts on File, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kurian, G. T.: 1984, The New Book ofWorld Rankings (Facts on File, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kurian, G. T.: 1990, The New Book ofWorld Rankings (Facts on File, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Larson, D. and W. T. Wilford: 1979, 'The physical quality of life index: A useful indicator?' World Development 7, pp. 581–584.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lenski, G.: 1966, Power and Privilege (McGraw-Hill, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lipton, M.: 1977, Why Poor People Stay Poor: A Study of Urban Bias in World Development (Harvard University Press, Cambridge,MA).

    Google Scholar 

  • London, B. and B. A. Williams: 1988, 'Multinational corporate penetration, protest, and basic needs provision in non-core countries: A cross-national analysis', Social Forces 66, pp. 747–773.

    Google Scholar 

  • London, B. and B. A. Williams: 1990, 'National politics, international dependency, and basic needs provision: A cross-national analysis', Social Forces 69, pp. 565–584.

    Google Scholar 

  • Milliband, R.: 1969, The State in Capitalist Society (Basic, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Moon, B.: 1991, The Political Economy of Basic Human Needs (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY).

    Google Scholar 

  • Moon, B. E. and W. J. Dixon: 1985, 'Politics, the state, and basic human needs: A cross-national study', American Journal of Political Science 29, pp. 661–694.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morris, N. D.: 1979, Measuring the condition of the world's poor (Pergamon, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, R.: 1995, 'sociology as if nature did not matter: An ecological critique', British Journal of Sociology 46, pp. 688–707.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphy,R.: 1997, Social Theory and Nature: Social Action in Conflict (Westview Press, Boulder, CO).

    Google Scholar 

  • National Research Council: 1986, Population Growth and Economic Growth (pmNational Academy Press, Washington, D.C.).

  • Navvaro, V.: 1993, 'How socialism failed: An analysis of health indicators under socialism and capitalism', Science and Society 57, pp. 6–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nussbaum, M. and A. Sen: 1993, The Quality of Life (Oxford University Press, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Connor, J.: 1973, The Fiscal Crisis of the State (St. Martin's Press, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Olsen, M. E.: 1992, 'The energy consumption turnaround and socioeconomic well-being in industrial societies in the 1980s', Advances in Human Ecology 1, pp. 197–234.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poulantzas, N.: 1973, Political Power and Social Classes (New Left, London).

    Google Scholar 

  • Prakash, B. A.: 1994, Kerala's Economy (Sage, Newbury Park, CA).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ragin, C. C. and Y.W. Bradshaw: 1992, 'International economic dependence and human misery, 1938–1980', Sociological Perspectives 35, pp. 217–247.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rostow, M.: 1960, The Stages of Economic Growth (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge).

    Google Scholar 

  • Rostow, W. M.: 1978, The World Economy: History and Prospect (University of Texas Press, Austin).

    Google Scholar 

  • Rousseeuw, P. J. and A.M. Leroy: 1987, Robust Regression and Outlier Detection (JohnWiley, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Rueschemeyer, D. and P. Evans: 1985, 'The state and economic transformation: Toward an analysis of the conditions underlying effective intervention', in P. Evans, D. Rueschemeyer and T. Skocpol (eds.), Bringing the State Back In (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge), pp. 44–77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rueschemeyer, D., E. H. Stephens and J. D. Stephens: 1992, Development and Democracy (University of Chicago Press, Chicago).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sen, A.: 1981, 'Public action and the quality of life in developing countries', Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics 43, pp. 287–319.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sen, A.: 1989, 'Food and freedom',World Development 7, pp. 769–781.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shen, C. and J. B. Williamson: 1997, 'Child mortality, women's status, economic dependency, and state strength: A cross-national study of less developed countries', Social Forces 76, pp. 667–694.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shin, D. G.: 1989, 'Political democracy and the quality of citizens' lives: A crossnational study', Journal of Developing Societies 5, pp. 30–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sirowy, L. and A. Inkeles: 1990, 'The effects of democracy on economic growth and inequality: A review', Studies in Comparative International Development 25, pp. 126–157.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skocpol, T.: 1985, 'Bringing the state back in: Strategies of analysis in current research', in P. Evans, D. Rueschemeyer and T. Skocpol (eds.), Bringing the State Back In (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge), pp. 3–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • So, A.: 1990, Social Change and Development (Sage, Newbury Park, CA).

    Google Scholar 

  • Spalding, N. L.: 1990, 'The relevance of basic needs for political and economic development', Studies in Comparative International Development 25, pp. 90–115.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stokes, R. K. and A. B. Anderson: 1990, 'Disarticulation and human welfare in less developed countries', American Sociological Review 55, pp. 63–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Streeten, P.: 1995, 'Human development: The debate about the index', International Social Science Journal 143, pp. 25–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Szal, R. J.: 1979, 'Popular participation, employment and the fulfillment of basic needs', International Labor Review 118, pp. 27–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, C. L. and D. A. Jodice: 1983, World Handbook of Political and Social Indicators, Volume II, 3rd edition (Yale University Press, New Haven, CT).

    Google Scholar 

  • Touraine, A.: 1997,What is Democracy? (Westview Press, Boulder, CO).

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations: 1993, Human Development Report, 1993 (Oxford University Press, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallerstein, I.: 1979, 'The rise and future demise of the world capitalist system: Concepts for comparative analysis', in I.Wallerstein (ed.), The CapitalistWorld Economy (Cambridge University Press, New York), pp. 1–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walton, J. and C. Ragin: 1990, 'Global and national sources of political protest: Third world responses to the debt crisis', American Sociological Review 55, pp. 876–890.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weede, E.: 1993, 'The impact of democracy or repressiveness on the quality of life, income distribution, and economic growth rates', International Sociology 8, pp. 177–195.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wickrama, K. A. S. and C. S. Mulford: 1996, 'Political democracy, economic development, disarticulation, and social well-being in developing countries', The Sociological Quarterly 37, pp. 375–390.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilkinson, R. G.: 1992, 'Income distribution and life expectancy', British Medical Journal 304, pp. 165–168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williamson, J. B.: 1987, 'social security and physical quality of life in developing nations: A cross-national analysis', Social Indicators Research 55, pp. 75–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wimberley, D. W.: 1990, 'Investment dependence and alternative explanations of third world mortality: A cross-national study', American Sociological Review 55, pp. 75–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wimberley, D. W.: 1991, 'Transnational corporate investment and food consumption in the third world: A cross-national analysis', Rural Sociology 56, pp. 406–431.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wimberley, D. and R. Bello: 1992, 'Effects of foreign investment, exports, and economic growth on third world consumption', Social Forces 70, pp. 895–921.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Bank: 1976, World Tables (Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD).

    Google Scholar 

  • World Bank: 1980, World Tables (Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD).

    Google Scholar 

  • World Bank: 1984a, World Tables, Vol. I (Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD).

    Google Scholar 

  • World Bank: 1984b, World Tables, Vol II (Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD).

    Google Scholar 

  • World Bank: 1992a, World Tables (Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore,MD).

    Google Scholar 

  • World Bank: 1992b,World Development Report, 1992 (Oxford University Press, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • World Bank: 1993, World Development Report, 1993 (Oxford University Press, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Young, F. W.: 1990, 'Do some authoritarian governments foster physical quality of life?' Social Indicators Research 22, pp. 367–384.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work, Kansas State University, 204 Waters Hall, Manhattan, KS, 66506-4003, USA

    R. Scott Frey & Ali Al-Roumi

Authors
  1. R. Scott Frey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ali Al-Roumi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Frey, R.S., Al-Roumi, A. Political Democracy and the Physical Quality of Life: The Cross-National Evidence. Social Indicators Research 47, 73–97 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006967124534

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006967124534

Keywords

Search

Navigation