Name: Does democracy stifle economic growth?
Uploaded: 2011-09-12T14:44:18Z
Duration: 18 min 34 s
Description: Economist Yasheng Huang compares China to India, and asks how China's authoritarian rule contributed to its astonishing economic growth -- leading to a big question: Is democracy actually holding India back? Huang's answer may surprise you.

Economist Yasheng Huang compares China to India, and asks how China's authoritarian rule contributed to its astonishing economic growth -- leading to a big question: Is democracy actually holding India back? Huang's answer may surprise you.

Does democracy stifle economic growth?

Conventional wisdom credits China's authoritarian system for rapid economic gains, but deeper analysis reveals human capital and social foundations played the bigger role. At one point, China’s adult literacy rate reached 77 percent while India’s lagged at 48 percent, shaping their divergent growth. Comparing democratic India to its neighbor Pakistan, which endured long stretches of military rule, shows democracy can deliver robust economic performance. The true drivers of growth are education, health, and the gradual strengthening of institutions—not just infrastructure or strongman politics.

Democracy Does Not Hinder Economic Growth—It Can Fuel It

*Capitalism with Chinese Characteristics*

Why democracy still wins

Asia

culture

democracy

economics

global issues

politics

india

TED Stage Talk

Yasheng Huang: Does democracy stifle economic growth?