Human Development and Electoral Systems

The aim of this paper is to test if electoral systems and human development are linked. Using high quality data and very simple panel data econometric techniques we show that electoral systems play a critical role in explaining the difference in the level of human development between countries. We find that proportional systems have higher levels of human development than majoritarian systems, thanks to more redistributive fiscal policies. We also find that when the degree of proportionality increases, human development increases.