Kyklos最新文献

The short answer is: probably not. We infer the priorities of national governments from observed outcomes, constructing a statistical proxy for long-term benevolence. Using data between 1960 and 2019 for more than 100 countries, we show that, on average, democracies score more highly on our measure. We then investigate whether variation in long-term benevolence can explain the ‘autocratic gamble’—the well-known tendency for growth rates to vary more widely across autocracies than across democracies. We show that the distribution of long-term benevolence under democracy first-order stochastically dominates its distribution under autocracy. Put differently, although there is an autocratic gamble in growth rates, there is no autocratic gamble in wider development outcomes. The rapid growth seen in some autocracies probably originates in regime self-interest rather than unusually benevolent leadership.

Through a systematic literature review of 42 recent peer-reviewed empirical studies of international arms markets, this paper examines the determinants of supply and demand for manned fixed-wing combat aircraft in the post–Cold War era. This literature review distinguishes more than 80 different determinants related to either the international system interaction, an international state or the aircraft offered. The determinants can be related to the main characteristics of the market, namely, security, economics and normative values. Measurable effects are only visible for security and economic determinants. Normative factors appear to play a rudimentary role across the board, although they can be found to be significant in individual studies. One conclusion that can be drawn is that the most commonly studied determinants are not those with the greatest impact. In addition, it is important to note that all but a few of the publications analysed do not address the difference in market power between a producing and a supplying (reselling) state.

This paper examines blank and null voting in Brazilian mayoral elections using a large dataset covering 5570 municipalities between 2000 and 2020. The study finds that more competitive elections reduce blank and null percentages, with re-election scenarios leading to more valid votes. Blank and particularly null voting are found to be more prevalent in municipalities where a second round is possible. Economic factors and age categories also contribute to determine unconventional voting patterns. The results also highlight important differences between blank and null voting patterns and between urban and rural areas, the later suggesting that more sophisticated voters tend to be less prone to invalidate the vote.

Framings may affect individuals' choices. In particular, the perception of (implicit) risks and their costs may influence intertemporal choices. In a between-subjects experimental design, participants are presented choices either in a standard (i.e., current vs. future payoffs), penalty (i.e., the same as before, presenting the differences between present and future amounts as losses), future-improved (i.e., increasing by 35% the future payoff with respect to the standard frame) or penalty present-improved way (i.e., with small differences between present and future amounts). Undergraduate students participated in 3 two-step experiments. The results show that the negative and the present-improved frames render the participants more patient and subjects who are trained to be more farsighted using a penalty decision problem continue to be patient in subsequent classical formulations where that specific attribute is no longer present.

We present empirical evidence on the relationship between military spending and the expansion of other government budget items and tax revenues from the unification of Italy (1861) up to the end of World War II. Until 1922, investments in education and social transfers to families mainly moved in step with defence spending. This means that increases in defence spending imply an increase in both education spending and transfers. Moreover, transfers also play a compensatory role during recessions. Increases in defence spending do not crowd out investment in capital expenditure, while disinvestment in defence is associated with an increase in investment in capital. The pro-cyclical behaviour of tax revenues is compatible with the debt-financing dynamic of much government expenditure. Although our analytical narrative is not universally valid, it does support the persistent centrality of external wars in the discontinuous growth and expansion of central government in the Italian state, with some exceptions explained by historical events.

A prominent gender stereotype claims that “boys are better at learning mathematics than girls.” Confronted with such a parental attitude, how does this affect the well-being of 11- to 18-year-old students in Chinese middle schools? Although well-being has often been shown to be not much gender-diverse, the intergenerational consequences of such stereotypes are not well studied. Expecting too much from boys and too little from girls might damage self-esteem among school kids. Using large survey data covering districts all over China reveals that one-quarter of the parents agree with the math stereotype. It is shown that this has strong detrimental consequences for the offspring's well-being. Students are strongly more depressed, feeling blue, unhappy, not enjoying life, and sad with no male–female differences, whereas parental education does not matter for this transfer. Various robustness tests including other than math stereotypes and an IV analysis confirm the findings. Moderating such effects, which is in line with societal objectives in many countries, not only supports gender equality but also strengthens the mental health of children.

International aid charities face a dilemma by virtue of the White Saviour: Appeal photos of Caucasian helpers in Global South settings can build a bridge to donors or cause donor resentment with changing social norms. We examine four resulting empirical questions using a series of online studies: What is the White Saviour? How do White Saviour perceptions arise from charitable appeals? And what is their effect on both donation intentions and behaviour? We empirically identify two factors that constitute White Saviour perceptions: entitlement and ineffectiveness, along with the photo characteristics that raise them. Findings suggest that images with high White Saviour perceptions do not raise donations but can actually lower the propensity to donate. There is therefore no case for international NGOs to use such imagery, particularly given that it risks offending the people and communities they serve.